Prime Minister Ehud Olmert said Wednesday that both Israelis and Palestinians are "very seriously" trying to move forward to realize the vision of a two-state solution. Meanwhile, US President George Bush said that all issues must be discussed in the framework of negotiations, including the Palestinian right of return.
Olmert stressed that the time has come for negotiations on the establishment of a Palestinian state, because there is a president who is friendly to Israel currently in the White House, and because the Palestinians are led by relatively moderate figures.
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"I say thank God that I can engage in diplomatic negotiations with Bush being one of my partners. Thank God that we can engage in diplomatic talks when the world's greatest power is headed by such a friend of Israel," the prime minister said.
Speaking at a joint news conference with visiting US President George W. Bush, Olmert said Israel was serious about implementing the Road map Peace plan for the creation of a Palestinian state next to Israel. "Both sides, I believe, are very seriously trying to move forward in order to realize the vision" of two states living side by side in peace, Olmert said.
Bush said that peace meant concessions from both sides and added that illegal Israeli outposts in the West Bank must be removed. He also said that Arab states must "support the Palestinians as they make tough choices." The president added that he was "very hopeful" an agreement could be achieved.
Referring to rocket attacks on southern Israel Wednesday, Olmert said "there will be no peace unless terror is stopped." Israel "Will not tolerate the continuation of these vicious attacks," he said.
President Bush says he will tell Palestinian President Mahmoud Abbas that his territory
"cannot be a safe haven for terrorists." The president said that he intends to ask Abbas what he plans to do about the ongoing rocket attacks.
Meanwhile, both leaders made it clear following their meeting that the Iranian threat must be taken seriously. Prime Minister Olmert said that he was encouraged by the US position on this issue.
AP contributed to the story
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