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Cheney meets Palestinian leaders Cheney meets Palestinian leaders
(about 1 hour later)
US Vice-President Dick Cheney is holding talks with Palestinian leaders in the West Bank town of Ramallah as part of a Middle-East tour. US Vice-President Dick Cheney has said peace between Israel and the Palestinians will require painful concessions on both sides.
He made the trip after giving Israel strong backing on security issues. He said the creation of a Palestinian state was long overdue, but rocket attacks against Israel hindered peace.
The visit is part of an attempt to revive the peace process, but correspondents say people on both sides remain sceptical. Mr Cheney was speaking after talks with Palestinian President Mahmoud Abbas in the West Bank town of Ramallah as part of a Middle-East tour.
He has already given Israel strong backing on security issues.
The visit is part of a bid to revive the peace process, but correspondents say people on both sides remain sceptical.
It came as rival Palestinian groups signed a Yemeni-brokered reconciliation deal promising to revive direct talks.It came as rival Palestinian groups signed a Yemeni-brokered reconciliation deal promising to revive direct talks.
Hamas and Fatah have been in conflict since the dissolution of a Hamas-led government and the militant group's seizure of control in the Gaza Strip.Hamas and Fatah have been in conflict since the dissolution of a Hamas-led government and the militant group's seizure of control in the Gaza Strip.
Peace hopes Difficult truth
In Ramallah, Mr Cheney met Palestinian President Mahmoud Abbas and is due to meet Palestinian Prime Minister Salam Fayyad. In Ramallah, Mr Cheney met Mr Abbas and was due to hold a separate meeting with Palestinian Prime Minister Salam Fayyad.
Security is tight for the visit, with police blocking streets within several kilometres of the government compound. The United States will never pressure Israel to take steps to threaten its security Dick CheneyUS Vice-President
Mr Cheney said he looked forward to the day "that an independent, viable, democratic and peaceful Palestinian state comes into being".
"Achieving that vision will require tremendous effort at the negotiating table and painful concessions on both sides," he said.
"It will also require a determination to defeat those who are committed to violence and who refuse to accept the basic right of the other side to exist.
"A difficult but immutable truth must continue to be told: terror and rockets do not merely kill innocent civilians, they also kill legitimate hopes and aspirations of the Palestinian people."
Security was tight for the visit, with police blocking streets within several kilometres of the government compound.
Earlier, he said Washington was committed to the establishment of a Palestinian state and that Palestinian leaders could be "certain of America's goodwill".Earlier, he said Washington was committed to the establishment of a Palestinian state and that Palestinian leaders could be "certain of America's goodwill".
Mr Cheney also reaffirmed US backing for Israel.Mr Cheney also reaffirmed US backing for Israel.
"America's commitment to Israel's security is enduring and unshakeable, as is our commitment to Israel's right to defend itself - always - against terrorism, rocket attacks and other threats from forces dedicated to Israel's destruction," he said at a meeting with Israeli Prime Minister Ehud Olmert on Saturday."America's commitment to Israel's security is enduring and unshakeable, as is our commitment to Israel's right to defend itself - always - against terrorism, rocket attacks and other threats from forces dedicated to Israel's destruction," he said at a meeting with Israeli Prime Minister Ehud Olmert on Saturday.
"The United States will never pressure Israel to take steps to threaten its security.""The United States will never pressure Israel to take steps to threaten its security."
US President George W Bush has said he hopes for a peace deal before he leaves office in January.US President George W Bush has said he hopes for a peace deal before he leaves office in January.
But the BBC's Tim Franks in Jerusalem says Israelis and Palestinians are sceptical about the chances for peace.But the BBC's Tim Franks in Jerusalem says Israelis and Palestinians are sceptical about the chances for peace.
Opinion polls suggest that most people doubt that the current talks, given an extra push by the Americans at the end of last year, will lead to a deal any time soon.Opinion polls suggest that most people doubt that the current talks, given an extra push by the Americans at the end of last year, will lead to a deal any time soon.
Regional tour
Mr Cheney is on the latest leg of a tour that has included Iraq, Afghanistan and Saudi Arabia.Mr Cheney is on the latest leg of a tour that has included Iraq, Afghanistan and Saudi Arabia.
He flew to Israel after an overnight visit to Saudi Arabia, where he and King Abdullah discussed ways of stabilising the oil market.
On Thursday, Mr Cheney held talks with Afghan President Hamid Karzai in Kabul, urging greater Nato commitment.
The vice-president's Middle East tour also took him to the Iraqi capital, Baghdad, five years after the US-led invasion.
Mr Cheney will visit Turkey before returning to Washington.Mr Cheney will visit Turkey before returning to Washington.