Posted on 11/27/2007 6:08:14 AM PST by F15Eagle
ANNAPOLIS, Md. - President Bush said in remarks prepared for delivery Tuesday at the Annapolis conference that the time is right to relaunch Mideast peace talks because "a battle is under way for the future of the Middle East."
Bush said it won't be easy to achieve the goal of creating two states Israel and Palestine living side by side in peace after decades of conflict and bloodshed, yet he urged the two sides to work together for the sake of their people.
"Today, Palestinians and Israelis each understand that helping the other to realize their aspirations is the key to realizing their own, and both require an independent, democratic, viable Palestinian state," Bush said in remarks released by the White House. "Such a state will provide Palestinians with the chance to lead lives of freedom, purpose and dignity. And such a state will help provide Israelis with something they have been seeking for generations: to live in peace with their neighbors."
After months of frantic diplomacy, top officials from more than 40 nations were converging on this historic state capital for what Bush said he hopes will launch of the first Israeli-Palestinian peace talks in seven years.
Buffeted by skepticism over prospects the Annapolis Conference can set the stage for the creation of a Palestinian state by the end of Bush's second term, his administration has downplayed expectations for major breakthroughs but insists the exercise is not futile.
Bush, who met separately with Israeli Prime Minister Ehud Olmert and Palestinian President Mahmoud Abbas on Monday ahead of the conference, said the purpose of Annapolis is to not only restart talks, but also gain support from the Arab world and the international community for the hard work ahead. Saudi Arabia and Syria key players are among 16 Arab nations attending the conference.
"Our purpose here in Annapolis is not to conclude an agreement. Rather, it is to launch negotiations between the Israelis and Palestinians," Bush said. "For the rest of us, our job is to encourage the parties in this effort and to give them the support they need to succeed."
Bush laid out the reasons he said now is the right time to pursue a Mideast peace settlement something he and the Israeli and Palestinians leaders said they would like to achieve before the U.S. president leaves office in January 2009.
"First, the time is right because Palestinians and Israelis have leaders who are determined to achieve peace," Bush said. "Second, the time is right because a battle is under way for the future of the Middle East and we must not cede victory to the extremists. Third, the time is right because the world understands the urgency of supporting these negotiations."
Despite Bush's lofty rhetoric, Secretary of State Condoleezza Rice had still not managed to broker an agreement on the conference centerpiece, a joint document or "workplan" on new talks what the two sides must do going forward.
Rice has been meeting with the chief negotiators for two days to try and bridge the gaps.
Chief Palestinian negotiator Ahmed Qureia said Monday after an afternoon meeting with Rice, Israeli Foreign Minister Tzipi Livni and others that details of the document had not been finalized. "Our efforts are still going on to reach this document," he said.
A member of the Palestinian delegation, speaking on condition on anonymity because talks were still going on, said three main obstacles have emerged:
_All sides have agreed that two states should be established, but the Palestinians have objected to referring to Israel as a "Jewish state." The Palestinians and their Arab backers are concerned that a specific reference to a Jewish state would prejudice the right of Palestinians who claim a right to return to land they once owned inside Israel.
_American and Israeli officials are resisting Palestinian efforts to include language about "ending the occupation that started in 1967," a reference to disputed Jewish settlements in the West Bank. The West Bank would form the bulk of an eventual Palestinian state and the two sides must decide which settlements would remain a part of Israel.
_The Palestinians want the document to set a one-year timetable for reaching a resolution. The Israelis do not want this, and the Americans are open the idea.
let’s all build a fire and sing some songs while we join hands with the death cult for “peace”, whaddya say?
I am now convinced that George W. Bush himself is deranged. Maybe he is a moron.
Bush (I gag at still calling him President) has lost any sanity that was there when I voted for him a second time. Not that Kerry would have been better, but I feel betrayed by the current presidential office holder.
Bush, of all people, should know that “peace” in the Middle East is not his to grant.
I stand in shocked amazement, watching these things happen.
Does every President think the only way they can leave a legacy is to try and force this square peg into a round hole? There’s something about the end of the second term that must make them forget everything that has happened in the past.
It seems to me that many Presidents try this Mid East peace thing near the end of their terms, I believe Clinton tried to get Israel to give away a ton of land...for peace, Carter tried it...Bush I tried it and now his son goes the same way. I still don’t get it, they all try the same thing with similar results, isn’t that Einstein’s definition of insanity?
We can take some solace in the certainty that Annapolis will fail.
will SOMEONE please tell Bush it doesn’t matter how hard he tries to get the left to like him.........they NEVER will.
Ah, Ebony and Ivory....like Rev. Jacksun and David Duke living next door to each other in harmony!
Me too.
There will be peace in Israel someday. But I'm surprised that Bush, claiming to be a Christian, doesn't know how this peace comes about.
Yep, Hamas dragged Fatah out in the street and shot them in the head, because they were too “moderate”.
I’m convinced they all want the “Nobel Peace Prize” for some high-school textbook reference.
Good night, nurse - ping!
How does this travesty make one gag....let me count the ways!
Time is right for Mideast peace? Why, did all the Moslems die last night?
U.N. / Russia / China / France / U.S.A. / England
Creates Israeli state in 1948. Four major wars, 1948, 1956, 1967 and 1973 (very close to involving Russia and the U.S.A. on opposite sides). No Mideast Peace.
Carter / Sadat / Begin
Ended up with Sadat assassinated with Kalishnikov’s on a parade stand. Begin dead, No Mideast Peace.
Clinton / Arafat / Rabin
Ended up with Rabin assassinated in Israel (IIRC). Terrorist Arafat starts Intifada, kills many and now dead (thank God). No Mideast Peace.
Hey, maybe THIS time, it will work.
Then again ...
Even though the fight is far from over, there will be repercussions to his actions (good ones) for a long time.
lol
They laugh off the clear picture painted in the Bible. It doesn’t show the nations of the world creating harmony in the Middle East. It shows the nations of the world fighting each other and a good number trying to destroy Israel.
You wouldn’t believe the number of Christians I meet who pretend that is not what it says.
Better wait for the final act. The curtain is yet to go up, I’m sorry to say, on what will come.
Nothing worse than a POTUS in “Legacy Mode.”
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You are Black and I am White
You are blind as a bat and I have sight
Side by side, you are my amigo,
Negro let's not fiiiiight.
There won't be one.
It will be an ongoing process for some time.
But major improvements have been made, much to Pelosi and other doomsayers' chagrin.
“We can take some solace in the certainty that Annapolis will fail.”
Yep. Certainty.
“Annapolis”. “Wye Oak”. “Oslo”. “The Quartet”.
Pompous diplomatic self-delusion.
This reminds me of the President telling us he looked into Putin’s soul and was fine with what he saw.
We all know how that turned out....(eyes rolling)
You cannot negotiate with religious fanatics. To even attempt it is an excercise in futility, doesn’t matter if its snake handlers in eastern Kentucky, or wahabists in the Middle East, or the Middle East’s version of Welfare Queens, the so called Palestinians.
The arrogance required to believe any one person can, in 48 months, or even 96 months in the case of a two term Presidency, overcome 2,000 plus years of institutionalized hatred is both stunning, and frightening.
Its a war of annihilation. This won’t stop til one side or the other ceases to exist as a viable entity.
“We can take some solace in the certainty that Annapolis will fail.”
- but wouldn’t be great for the free world IF they were able to get some sort of peace process started?? Certainly there will be ups and downs, every relationship does. But IF a workable framework results, we are all winners.
the past is past - each day is the beginning of the rest of our life - we live in hope!!
Agreed
And Neville Chamberlain "hoped" Hitler would stop making territorial claims on the rest of Europe.
Exactly. Hope is good but with a clear view of reality. Look what Hitler created in only a few years and the result was over 50 million dead.
agreed
Oh, you're talking Day of Judgment? LOL. Of course...then all things will be revealed.
But as far as the WOT, President Bush has made excellent progress despite the harping from left AND right. The liberalizaton of Iraq will be an example for other despotic Muslim nations for years to come.
I’m sure the indoctrination of future generations will continue. On PBS last night they had some at USC or UCLA (forget which). It was so bad I had to quickly turn the channel.
“And Neville Chamberlain “hoped” Hitler would stop making territorial claims on the rest of Europe.”
and Churchill would echo my words!!
So Iraq will become a beacon of democracy in the Middle East?
I wouldn't use idealistic language...I would be more down to earth.
I would say it has been transformed from a hopeless despotism to a rough kind of democracy, a fairly major change.
Now we need to keep it moving forward.
ROFL!!!! In our dreams!!!!
Well, we would prefer their conversion, of course. :)
But, are you guys say, as long as islam is alive, and it’s not going away soon, the “dream” of the destruction of Israel, and eventually Christianity subdued, will be kept as a major goal.

perfect
That’s the truth!
So long as there is anyone who refuses to submit to Islam, there will never be “peace”. Bush is as clueless now as ever.
yep
If you don’t have a love and burden for the Jewish people and Israel, to quote Johnny Cash in WALK THE LINE “Well they’re not Christians then”.
Read Matthew 25:31-46
My Zondervan NIV note says: The two most widely accepted interpretations of this judgment are: 1. It will occur at the beginning of an earthly millennial kingdom(vv.31,34). Its purpose will be to determine who will be allowed to enter the kingdom (v.34). The criterion for judgment will be the kind of treatment shown to the Jewish people (”these brothers of mine,” v.40) during the preceding great tribulation period(vv.35-40,42-45). Ultimately, how a person treats the Jewish people will reveal whether or not he is saved (vv.41,46). The judgment referred to occurs at the great white throne at the end of the age (Rev 20:11-15). Its purpose will be to determine who will be allowed to enter the eternal kingdom of the saved and who will be consigned to eternal punishment in hell (vv.34,46) The basis for judgment will be whether love is shown to God’s people (see 1 John 3:14-15).
oops, missed ya on the ping
Can you ping Bush #48?
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