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Bush urges Israeli occupation end Bush urges Israeli occupation end
(40 minutes later)
US President George W Bush has said Israel must end occupation of Arab land to enable the creation of a viable Palestinian state.US President George W Bush has said Israel must end occupation of Arab land to enable the creation of a viable Palestinian state.
He also urged a solution to the issue of Palestinian refugees that would involve paying them compensation.He also urged a solution to the issue of Palestinian refugees that would involve paying them compensation.
It is thought to be Mr Bush's strongest public statement pressing Israel to give up land it seized in the 1967 war. He was speaking in Jerusalem following two days of separate talks with Israeliand Palestinian leaders. It is thought to be Mr Bush's strongest public statement pressing Israel to give up land it seized in the 1967 war.
He has been trying to encourage the two sides into peace talks. He was speaking in Jerusalem following two days of separate talks with Israeli and Palestinian leaders.
He has been trying to encourage the two sides into peace talks, and says he wants a peace deal signed by the time he leaves office in January 2009.
Now is the time to make difficult choices US President George W Bush In pictures: Bush in W BankMiddle East tour diaryPress split on peace hopesNow is the time to make difficult choices US President George W Bush In pictures: Bush in W BankMiddle East tour diaryPress split on peace hopes
Mr Bush said in a statement: "These negotiations must ensure that Israel has secure recognised and defensible borders and they must ensure the state of Palestine is viable, contiguous, sovereign and independent. Mr Bush said in a statement: "It is vital that each side understands that satisfying the other's fundamental objectives is key to a successful agreement.
"It is vital that each side understands that satisfying the other's fundamental objectives is key to a successful agreement. He said this would require:
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  • secure recognised and defensible borders for Israel
  • a viable, contiguous, sovereign and independent Palestinian state
"Security for Israel and viability for a Palestinian state are in the mutual interests of both parties." He added: "Agreement must establish Palestine as a homeland for the Palestinian people just as Israel is a homeland for the Jewish people."
Two homelands OBSTACLES TO PEACE class="" href="/1/hi/world/middle_east/6666393.stm">History of negotiations class="" href="/1/hi/world/middle_east/6668603.stm">Jerusalem class="" href="/1/hi/world/middle_east/6666495.stm">Water class="" href="/1/hi/world/middle_east/6689355.stm">Refugees class="" href="/1/hi/world/middle_east/6669545.stm">Borders and settlements
And he added: "Agreement must establish Palestine as a homeland for the Palestinian people just as Israel is a homeland for the Jewish people." He did not give details of precisely what a final agreement might contain - he said that would be a matter for the talks.
Mr Bush did not give details of precisely what a final agreement might contain - but his statement set out parameters within which he expected negotiators to work. But his statement set out some parameters within which he expected negotiators to work.
OBSTACLES TO PEACE class="" href="/1/hi/world/middle_east/6666393.stm">History of negotiations class="" href="/1/hi/world/middle_east/6668603.stm">Jerusalem class="" href="/1/hi/world/middle_east/6666495.stm">Water class="" href="/1/hi/world/middle_east/6689355.stm">Refugees class="" href="/1/hi/world/middle_east/6669545.stm">Borders and settlements "Now is the time to make difficult choices," he said. But he gave clues to some issues. These included:
On Palestinian refugees - a key issue for Arabs since the creation of the state of Israel in 1948 - he said an international mechanism would need to be set up involving compensation.
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  • Palestinian refugees - a key issue for Arabs since the creation of the state of Israel in 1948. They should get compensation - indicating he does not share their dream of a return to their traditional homes in what is now Israel
  • borders - agreed adjustments to the pre-1967 boundaries "to reflect current realities" - a reference to Israeli settlements in the occupied West Bank
His diplomatic language indicates that the hundreds of thousands of Palestinians in refugee camps around the Middle East should give up hopes of returning to their former homes in what is now Israel. And he issued a stern warning to both sides not to do anything which breaks promises they have already made, or which might make negotiations more difficult.
Instead, they could expect some kind of cash payment. "On the Israeli side, that includes ending settlement expansion and removing unauthorised outposts.
He also said a peace agreement would require mutually agreed adjustments to the pre-1967 boundaries "to reflect current realities" - a reference to Israeli settlements in the occupied West Bank. "On the Palestinian side, that includes confronting terrorists and dismantling terrorist infrastructure," he said.
And he called on Arab states to reach out to Israel - a step he said was "long overdue". Most recent attacks on Israel have come from inside Gaza, which is run by the Islamic militant group Hamas, and not Mr Abbas.
Mr Bush goes on to Gulf states on Friday, some of which have been less hostile to Israel than other Arab states. However, Mr Bush made no direct reference to Gaza in his statement.
Earlier, Mr Bush said he believed the two sides would be able to sign a peace deal before he leaves office in January 2009. And he underlined the US' commitment to Israeli security.
Mr Bush goes on to Gulf states on Friday, some of which have been less hostile to Israel than other Arab states. He urged Arab states to reach out to Israel - a step he said was "long overdue".