U.S. President George W. Bush called in a brief speech at the White House on Wednesday for international support to the Palestine-Israel peace process.

 

Standing side by side with Israeli Prime Minister Edhud Olmert and Palestinian leader Mahmoud Abbas in the Rose Garden, Bush also assured the U.S. vigorous effort to help achieve a Middle East peace agreement.

 

"One thing I've assured both gentlemen is that the United States will be actively engaged in the process, that we will use our power to help you as you come up with the necessary decisions to lay out a Palestinian state that will live side by side in peace with Israel," Bush said.

 

The president made the remarks following the one-day Middle East peace conference in Annapolis, Maryland, where Israeli and Palestinian leaders agreed to resume peace negotiations.

 

Bush applauded the Palestinian-Israeli joint document as "a hopeful beginning," but he noted that "no matter how important yesterday was, it's not nearly as important as tomorrow and the days beyond."

 

He also expressed his appreciation towards Olmert and Abbas for their commitment to working hard to achieve peace.

 

"I appreciate your courage and leadership. It's an honor to call you friends. And it's an honor to have watched you yesterday as you laid out your respective visions for something we all want," he said.

 

One day after vowing to try to forge a treaty by the end of 2008 at the Annapolis conference, Israeli Prime Minister Edhud Olmert were invited by Bush to the White House for the ceremonial resumption of the first formal peace talks in seven years.

 

Before the Rose Garden send-off speech, Bush separately met with Olmert and Abbas again at the White House. The two Middle Eastern leaders will continue with a meeting on Dec. 12 in Jerusalem.

 

Despite deep international doubts about the post-Annapolis prospects for the Palestine-Israel peace process by January 2009 when Bush's presidency expires, the White House still highlighted the conference's achievement.

 

"It was a successful conference," said Bush spokeswoman Dana Perino, adding "the follow-through is really important, and it's going to take a lot of effort and time and commitment in order to keep it going."

 

U.S. Secretary of State Condoleezza Rice also insisted during an interview with ABC television on Wednesday that the peace effort faced a window of opportunity as Arab states resume their support for a drive to end the six-decade conflict.

 

"I think in the region you're seeing that the Arab states that have not been as active in the peace process in the past were there in the room, including Saudi Arabia. Clearly, there are some reasons for hope and for optimism," Rice said.

 

(Xinhua News Agency November 29, 2007)