Israel, Palestine vow to seek deal by end-2008

ANNAPOLIS: Israel and Palestine opened a major international conference here on Tuesday with a pledge to immediately launch Middle East peace talks with the goal of reaching a final accord by the end of 2008.

US President George Bush made the dramatic announcement at the opening of a 44-nation Middle East peace conference, with Israeli Prime Minister Ehud Olmert and Palestinian President Mahmoud Abbas standing alongside him. President Bush read out a joint statement agreed just moments before the meeting began in Annapolis, Maryland. “We agree to engage in vigorous, ongoing and continuous negotiations and shall make every effort to conclude an agreement before the end of 2008,” the statement said. Abbas said the conference and international climate presented an exceptional opportunity for peace that would “not repeat itself,” while Olmert vowed Israel was prepared to make a “painful compromise” to achieve peace. Meanwhile, Bush said, “I believe that now is precisely the right time to begin these negotiations — for a number of reasons.” He cited a new willingness among the leaders of both sides, and global support for fresh negotiations. He said, “The time is right because a battle is underway for the future of the Middle East — and we must not cede victory to the extremists.”

The first meeting of a top-level steering committee is to be held on December 12, and the two sides agreed to conclude a peace treaty that would resolve all outstanding issues. afp