President Bush meets with Palestinian President Mahmoud Abbas during bilateral meetings related to the United Nations General Assembly in New York, Wednesday, Sept. 20, 2006. (AP Photo/Gerald Herbert)
Posted on 09/20/2006 12:38:01 PM PDT by NormsRevenge
NEW YORK - President Bush tried to boost Palestinian leader Mahmoud Abbas Wednesday as "a man of peace" who can help advance Mideast talks that have been stalled with militant Hamas leaders controlling the Palestinian parliament.
Abbas told Bush, "We are in dire need of your help and support."
He assured Bush that Palestinians want peace, despite the election of Hamas, which is sworn to Israel's destruction and has rebuffed international demands to recognize Israel and renounce violence.
"The Palestinian people desire peace, and there is no power on Earth that can prevent the Palestinian people from moving toward the peaceful solution and living and coexisting in peace," he said.
The meeting came while the two leaders were in New York to attend the U.N. General Assembly. In a speech there Tuesday, Bush said achieving peace in the Middle East was one of the great objectives of his presidency.
"I fully understand that in order to achieve this vision there must be leaders willing to speak out and act on behalf of people who yearn for peace," Bush said at the end of his meeting with Abbas when reporters were invited in. "And you are such a leader, Mr. President."
The two leaders spoke briefly to the media and did not take questions.
During the 40-minute meeting, deputy national security adviser Elliott Abrams said that Bush commended Abbas for his efforts to find a way out of the difficult political situation now that the Palestinian government has no international legitimacy. Bush expressed hopes that progress can be made in talks between Abbas and Israel Prime Minister Ehud Olmert, he said.
"The president is really committed to trying to achieve this," Abrams said. "He's well aware of the fact that conditions may, in the end, do not exist to make it possible.
"But he wants it understood that his interest, his commitment, his view that the establishment of a peaceful democratic Palestinian state is very, very much in the interests of Palestinians and Israelis alike."
The U.N. Security Council plans an open meeting Thursday that is intended to revive the peace process.
In his talk Tuesday, Bush challenged Hamas to reject terrorism, recognize Israel's right to exist, honor existing agreements and work for peace.
Hamas is sworn to Israel's destruction. Abbas has been trying to persuade Hamas leaders to moderate their anti-Israel policies and join with his Fatah Party in a coalition government.
U.S. officials have been concerned that Abbas has not shown greater leadership, while Fatah leaders complain that the United States has done next to nothing to support Abbas.
After the Hamas-led Cabinet took office in late March, the United States and European Union, the two biggest donors to the Palestinian Authority, cut off hundreds of millions of dollars in aid. Abbas wants to resolve the political stalemate in hopes of restarting the flow, but discussions have stalled over the U.S. demand that Hamas fully renounce violence, recognize Israel and agree to abide by commitments made by the previous secular Palestinian leaders.
Abrams said Abbas did not directly ask Bush for more aid.
Abbas met Monday in New York with Israeli Foreign Minister Tzipi Livni, the first working session between high-ranking Israeli and Palestinian officials in four months. Afterward, Livni said Israel wants to reopen a serious dialogue with Abbas and work with him to establish a Palestinian state.
The U.S.-backed peace plan aimed to establish a Palestinian state by 2005, but Israel and the Palestinians have failed to carry out their obligations and it has languished.
The efforts for peace were further set back this summer after militants allied with Hamas tunneled from the Gaza Strip into Israel to kidnap an Israeli soldier. The attack, which came after Israel withdrew last year from the Gaza Strip, sparked a large military offensive in the Palestinian area in which more than 200 Palestinians have been killed, most of them militants.
Days later, Hezbollah guerrillas abducted two soldiers in northern Israel and killed three others, triggering a larger assault across the border into Lebanon that lasted a month.
Bush planned to return to Washington after his meeting with Abbas.
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On the Net:
http://www.whitehouse.gov
Time heals all wounds, I guess.
President Bush meets with Palestinian President Mahmoud Abbas during bilateral meetings related to the United Nations General Assembly in New York, Wednesday, Sept. 20, 2006. (AP Photo/Gerald Herbert)
Man of peace?? Oh sure. More like "If I get what I want I'll be peaceful. If not I'll kill you."
Real peaceful.
George has this weird view that a Palestinian state will promote the cause of peace. Don't get me wrong, I support our President. I just don't like this cause and policy. It is folly.
Wow, just when you think the President "gets" it...
MOP.
"When you wish upon a star..."
And just last week on the anniversary of 9/11 speech Bush repeated that stuff about those who are in league with terrorists.
Dear Mr President:
I know there are some issues with CIA competence, but still it was in all the papers. In case no one told you, for weeks now Abbas has attempted to join Hamas (you know, the terrorists) in a unity government.
You praising Abbas seems to go against your speech and doctrine.
Don't worry, in minutes I will be set straight by one of your sycophants who will explain to me that this is all your genius beyond my comprehension.
Ground control to George W
Your circuit's dead, theres something wrong
Can you hear me, George W?
Can you hear me, George W?
Can you hear me, George W?
Can you....
Here am I floating round my tin can
Far above the moon
Planet earth is blue
Doo be doo be doo.
Yesterday, a thread said that Abbas was ready to recognize the State of Israel!! THAT"S why Bush is making nice-nice...Palestinians MUST recognize Israel's right to exist if there will ever be a SHRED of peace in the Middle East.
Leadership!
And now a word from abbASSes sponser
This may come to you as new and shocking news, BUT-
Abbas's group has supposedly already recognized Israel at least half a dozen times getting huge rewards every time.
Starting in 1988 when they recognized Israel and the US recognized the PLO. Then there was OLSO and Wye....and....
You've got to admire the barbarians for being able to sell the same item again and again to the same fools.
But what to make of us fools?
Is this the same guy that just this week ordered his body guards to fire into a crowd of homeless people?
.....ain't that the truth....
OK and I'm Santa Claus.
...no power except islam.
High volume. Articles on Israel can also be found by clicking on the Topic or Keyword Israel. also
2006israelwar or WOT
..................
Nice speach yesterday, but that was yesterday, today a lifelong terrorist, Abu Mazen, with a Phd in Holocaust Denial is a "men of peace".
He also said repeatedly he like that skunk's rearend Annan!
There are times when the President should shut his mouth and leave some things unsaid!
He does seem to have a taste for the "dark brown" occasionally!
Some idiosyncrasies show up in the strangest places(people)!
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