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Bush launches new Mid-East talks Bush launches new Mid-East talks
(about 2 hours later)
US President George W Bush has renewed his pledge to give the Israeli and Palestinian leaders his full support in reaching a peace deal in 2008.US President George W Bush has renewed his pledge to give the Israeli and Palestinian leaders his full support in reaching a peace deal in 2008.
Mr Bush spoke after meeting Palestinian Authority President Mahmoud Abbas and Israeli PM Ehud Olmert, as they began their first peace talks in seven years.Mr Bush spoke after meeting Palestinian Authority President Mahmoud Abbas and Israeli PM Ehud Olmert, as they began their first peace talks in seven years.
Mr Bush said Tuesday's conference near Washington was a "hopeful beginning" for Middle East peace. He said Tuesday's conference was a "hopeful beginning" for Mid-East peace.
Both sides agreed to hold regular talks towards creating a Palestinian state. Meanwhile former Nato commander Gen James Jones has been appointed the new US Middle East envoy.
Among his tasks will be to monitor how the Israelis and Palestinians live up to the security commitments made under the "road-map" which forms the basis for the newly-relaunched negotiations.
"Building security in the Middle East is the surest path to making peace in the Middle East," US Secretary of State Condoleezza Rice said of his appointment.
"Gen Jones is the best individual to lead our efforts in this essential endeavour."
'Side-by-side in peace'
Mr Bush met Mr Abbas and Mr Olmert separately before all three of them took part in a joint session declaring the talks formally under way.
KEY ISSUES Jerusalem Water Refugees Borders and settlements History of failed talks
"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," Mr Bush said in the White House Rose Garden with Mr Olmert and Mr Abbas at his side."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," Mr Bush said in the White House Rose Garden with Mr Olmert and Mr Abbas at his side.
The meetings were intended as the launch of their first direct negotiations since 2000. The next meeting is due on 12 December in Jerusalem. The BBC's James Coomarasamy in Washington says the leaders' brief appearance, without speeches or handshakes, was intended to portray a more sober and workmanlike spirit than the Annapolis conference.
According to the agreement, the Israeli and Palestinian leaders will go on to meet every other week, and teams of negotiators led by a joint steering committee will meet for the first time on 12 December.
Mr Bush - who also hosted Tuesday's meeting in Annapolis - said the two sides were committed to reaching a comprehensive peace deal by the end of next year.
But last year's parliamentary election winner Hamas - which does not recognise Israel and has been shunned by the US and Israel as a terrorist organisation - immediately rejected Annapolis as a "failure".
It's going to be hard, but you had support in that room [in Annapolis] that you had not had from Arab states in the past Condoleezza RiceUS secretary of state Key excerpts: Speeches Reactions to Annapolis
They say the talks were convened to prop up Mr Abbas and undermine their long-term aspirations.
In the West Bank, protests against the talks continued for a second day.In the West Bank, protests against the talks continued for a second day.
KEY ISSUES Jerusalem Water Refugees Borders and settlements History of failed talks
Witnesses said Palestinian police shot into the air to disperse hundreds of mourners in Hebron, who were attending the funeral of a man killed during protests on Tuesday.Witnesses said Palestinian police shot into the air to disperse hundreds of mourners in Hebron, who were attending the funeral of a man killed during protests on Tuesday.
At least 24 people were reported injured, one seriously, and a number of people were arrested.At least 24 people were reported injured, one seriously, and a number of people were arrested.
Palestinian critics, led by the Hamas militant Islamist group which controls Gaza, say the talks were convened to prop up Mr Abbas and undermine their long-term aspirations.
Mr Abbas' government, which holds sway in the West Bank having lost control of Gaza to Hamas in June, announced a ban on public demonstrations ahead of the Annapolis meeting.
Steering committee
Mr Bush on Wednesday met Mr Abbas Mr Olmert separately before getting them together for a joint session declaring the talks formally under way.
It's going to be hard, but you had support in that room [in Annapolis] that you had not had from Arab states in the past Condoleezza RiceUS secretary of state Key excerpts: Speeches Reactions to Annapolis
According to the agreement, they will go on to meet every other week.
In addition, teams of negotiators will be led by a joint steering committee which will meet for the first time on 12 December.
Mr Bush - who hosted Tuesday's meeting in Annapolis - said the two sides were committed to reaching a comprehensive peace deal by the end of next year, and the creation of an independent Palestinian state.
But last year's parliamentary election winner Hamas - which does not recognise Israel and has been shunned by the US and Israel as a terrorist organisation - immediately rejected Annapolis as a "failure".
'Core issues''Core issues'
Expectations had been low as representatives of more than 40 countries and international agencies gathered in Annapolis ahead of Tuesday's conference.Expectations had been low as representatives of more than 40 countries and international agencies gathered in Annapolis ahead of Tuesday's conference.
HAVE YOUR SAY Ignoring Hamas and the Iranian regime could increase their popularity in the Arab world Shahram, Isfahan Send us your commentsHAVE YOUR SAY Ignoring Hamas and the Iranian regime could increase their popularity in the Arab world Shahram, Isfahan Send us your comments
But in a joint statement concluded with only minutes to spare before the conference formally opened, the two sides agreed to launch negotiations for a treaty "resolving all outstanding issues, including all core issues without exception".But in a joint statement concluded with only minutes to spare before the conference formally opened, the two sides agreed to launch negotiations for a treaty "resolving all outstanding issues, including all core issues without exception".
Both sides have said those "core issues" will include the thorny so-called "final-status issues" - the future of Jerusalem, borders, water, refugees and settlements - which have scuppered previous attempts at a peace deal.Both sides have said those "core issues" will include the thorny so-called "final-status issues" - the future of Jerusalem, borders, water, refugees and settlements - which have scuppered previous attempts at a peace deal.
US Secretary of State Condoleezza Rice hailed the consensus reached in Annapolis. Ms Rice hailed the consensus reached in Annapolis.
"It's going to be hard, but you had support in that room that you had not had from Arab states in the past," she said on US television."It's going to be hard, but you had support in that room that you had not had from Arab states in the past," she said on US television.