U.S. President George Bush, Palestinian Prime Minister Mahmoud Abbas and Prime Minister Ariel Sharon ended summit talks in Aqaba, Jordan Wednesday with pledges to end violence, revive the peace process and work toward the "road map."
Palestinian Prime Minister Mahmoud Abbas called for an end to the "armed Intifada." "The armed Intifada must end and we must use and resort to peaceful means in our quest to end the occupation and suffering of Palestinians and Israelis," he said.
"We do not ignore the suffering of the Jews throughiout history," Abbas said. "It is time to bring this suffering to an end."
"We repeat our denunciation and renunciation of terrorism against the Israelis wherever they might be," Abbas stated. Abbas also promised to "act vigorously" against incitement and hatred against Israel, including using Palestinian security forces.
Sharon then said he wanted to assure his Palestinian partners that Israel understood their desire for territorial contiguity in the West Bank.
"In regard to the unauthorized oputposts I want to reiterate that Israel is a society governed by the rule of law Therefore we will immediately begin to remove unauthorized outposts," Sharon said at the end of the talks.
Bush then declared that America and he personally were committed to Israel's security. Turning to Abbas, he noted his "strong support" for the cause of freedom for the Palestinians.
Bush said that all present shared a goal, a Holy Land shared by two states, Israel and Palestine, living side by side. He also urged an end to incitement to hatred.
Jordan's King Abdullah opened the round of speeches, urging the sides to "have the will and the courage to realize our dreams of peace, prosperity and co-existence."
The monarch said the road map offers Israel the promise of a peace treaty, "normal relations with Arab states, and an end to the conflict."
Earlier, Bush met separately with Sharon and Abbas, in preliminary rounds of the summit. (Albawaba.com)
© 2003 Al Bawaba (www.albawaba.com)
