Bush (L) and Abbas during previous meeting
Photo: AFP
Bush, Abbas try to keep peace talks moving
'I'm hopeful that the vision that you and I have worked on can come to pass,' US president tells Palestinian leader in Washington. Abbas: We cannot live without hope
US President George W. Bush on Thursday met with Palestinian President Mahmoud Abbas to try to keep Middle East negotiations alive, as time wound down on his goal of achieving progress before leaving office.
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Bush kick-started new peace talks 10 months ago in hopes of clinching a peace agreement before he leaves office in January, but that has been scaled back to focus on a framework for creating a Palestinian state.
"I've got four more months left in office and I'm hopeful that the vision that you and I have worked on can come to pass," Bush told Abbas before their meeting. "My only pledge to you is that I'll continue to work hard to see that it can come to pass."
However, the meeting was overshadowed by Bush's efforts to complete work with Congress on a rescue package to halt the financial market turmoil.
'Hope will remain'
The talks have been complicated by political instability in Israel. Prime Minister Ehud Olmert resigned earlier this week in the face of corruption charges. Foreign Minister Tzipi Livni is trying to form a new coalition but the country could face early elections if she fails.
Another obstacle to progress has been Israel's expansion of Jewish settlements in the occupied West Bank which has angered Palestinians and drawn criticism from Washington.
Bush acknowledged that Abbas was likely frustrated by the lack of progress toward achieving a Palestinian state.
"Nevertheless, there is a firm determination on your part and on my part to give the Palestinians a place where there can be dignity and hope," he said.
Abbas' authority to speak for all Palestinians suffered a blow when the militant group Hamas, which advocates the destruction of Israel, seized control of the Gaza Strip more than a year ago.
For his part, Abbas said he would continue his efforts and expressed his gratitude to Bush for his support.
"Hope will remain," he said. "We cannot live without hope. We will continue to work to achieve and realize that hope."
