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| Version 2 | Version 3 |
|---|---|
| Bush presses for Mid-East peace | Bush presses for Mid-East peace |
| (about 1 hour later) | |
| US President George W Bush has said he is prepared to exert pressure so that Middle Eastern peace talks can succeed. | US President George W Bush has said he is prepared to exert pressure so that Middle Eastern peace talks can succeed. |
| "If there needs to be a little pressure then you know I will provide it," he said after talks with Israeli prime minister Ehud Olmert. | "If there needs to be a little pressure then you know I will provide it," he said after talks with Israeli prime minister Ehud Olmert. |
| He was speaking at the start of what he called a "historic" tour of the Middle East aimed at advancing peace talks. | |
| However, within hours of his arrival, the Palestinians reported that Israeli forces had killed three people in Gaza. | However, within hours of his arrival, the Palestinians reported that Israeli forces had killed three people in Gaza. |
| The Palestinians accused Israel of stepping up such attacks during the run-up to Mr Bush's visit. | The Palestinians accused Israel of stepping up such attacks during the run-up to Mr Bush's visit. |
| The role of the United States is to help in (peace) negotiations. We'll help, and we want to help President Bush Middle East tour diaryIn pictures: Bush visit | The role of the United States is to help in (peace) negotiations. We'll help, and we want to help President Bush Middle East tour diaryIn pictures: Bush visit |
| The Israeli raids followed rockets launched from inside Gaza into Israel. | The Israeli raids followed rockets launched from inside Gaza into Israel. |
| Mr Olmert - standing alongside Mr Bush - said Israel would not tolerate such rocket attacks. | Mr Olmert - standing alongside Mr Bush - said Israel would not tolerate such rocket attacks. |
| "There will be no peace until terror is stopped," he said. | "There will be no peace until terror is stopped," he said. |
| But he also re-iterated his commitment to peace, saying both sides were "seriously trying to move forward in order to realise the vision of a two-state solution". | But he also re-iterated his commitment to peace, saying both sides were "seriously trying to move forward in order to realise the vision of a two-state solution". |
| 'Tough negotiations' | 'Tough negotiations' |
| Mr Bush said he was "under no illusions" and there would be "hard work" ahead. | Mr Bush said he was "under no illusions" and there would be "hard work" ahead. |
| "I fully understand that there's going to be some painful political compromises," he said. | "I fully understand that there's going to be some painful political compromises," he said. |
| We are expecting that President Bush will get Israel to freeze settlement activity Nabil Abu Rudeina,Abbas spokesman Massive disruption for visitLasting legacy? | We are expecting that President Bush will get Israel to freeze settlement activity Nabil Abu Rudeina,Abbas spokesman Massive disruption for visitLasting legacy? |
| "There's going to be some tough negotiations. And the role of the United States is to help in those negotiations." | "There's going to be some tough negotiations. And the role of the United States is to help in those negotiations." |
| Palestinian leader Mahmoud Abbas and Mr Olmert vowed at a US summit last year to try to achieve a two-state solution by the end of 2008. | Palestinian leader Mahmoud Abbas and Mr Olmert vowed at a US summit last year to try to achieve a two-state solution by the end of 2008. |
| Mr Bush said he was still hopeful a peace deal could be agreed by the time he steps down as president in January 2009. | Mr Bush said he was still hopeful a peace deal could be agreed by the time he steps down as president in January 2009. |
| The issue of settlements is expected to top the agenda when Mr Abbas meets Mr Bush in the West Bank on Thursday. | The issue of settlements is expected to top the agenda when Mr Abbas meets Mr Bush in the West Bank on Thursday. |
| It also loomed large in Mr Olmert's and Mr Bush's news conference. | It also loomed large in Mr Olmert's and Mr Bush's news conference. |
| Mr Bush said outposts - small unofficial settlements - ought to go. But he made no direct reference to the issue of settlements in general. | Mr Bush said outposts - small unofficial settlements - ought to go. But he made no direct reference to the issue of settlements in general. |
| Mr Olmert said Israel would abide by its commitment not to build any new settlements in Palestinian territories. | Mr Olmert said Israel would abide by its commitment not to build any new settlements in Palestinian territories. |
| But he also made it clear that Israel did not consider East Jerusalem as occupied, even though most other nations, and the Palestinians, do. | But he also made it clear that Israel did not consider East Jerusalem as occupied, even though most other nations, and the Palestinians, do. |
| Naval encounter | Naval encounter |
| Mr Bush also took the opportunity to warn Iran of "serious consequences" if it attacked US ships in the Gulf. | Mr Bush also took the opportunity to warn Iran of "serious consequences" if it attacked US ships in the Gulf. |
| Israeli and Palestinian views on US leader's visitIn pictures | Israeli and Palestinian views on US leader's visitIn pictures |
| "My advice to them is, don't do it," he said. | "My advice to them is, don't do it," he said. |
| He was speaking after the US reported that five Iranian speedboats had challenged and briefly threatened three US warships in the Strait of Hormuz at the weekend. | He was speaking after the US reported that five Iranian speedboats had challenged and briefly threatened three US warships in the Strait of Hormuz at the weekend. |
| The US said its vessels were about to open fire when the Iranian boats withdrew. | The US said its vessels were about to open fire when the Iranian boats withdrew. |
| Iran at first described the encounter as a routine occurrence and dismissed video of the incident published by the Americans as fake. | Iran at first described the encounter as a routine occurrence and dismissed video of the incident published by the Americans as fake. |
| Mr Bush said he and Mr Olmert had also discussed the Iranian nuclear programme. | Mr Bush said he and Mr Olmert had also discussed the Iranian nuclear programme. |
| He said Iran was and would remain a threat to world peace if the international community did not stop it building a nuclear weapon. | He said Iran was and would remain a threat to world peace if the international community did not stop it building a nuclear weapon. |
| Iran says its programme is for peaceful purposes only. | Iran says its programme is for peaceful purposes only. |