President Bush Reaffirms Calls for the Creation of a Palestinian State During Trip to Middle East

President Bush was in the Middle East this week meeting with Israeli and Palestinian officials. He met with Israeli Prime Minister Olmert and Palestinian President Abbas during the trip, emphasizing the need for both sides to commit to making progress in the peace process. The president emphasized a two state solution during the trip, stating that "The establishment of the state of Palestine is long overdue." The president discussed the results of his trip at the King David Hotel in Jerusalem in a speech that has been reproduced on the White House website.

The president called on both leaders to commit to realizing their obligations under the roadmap. He noted the need for increased security, as well as economic and political stability in the Palestinian territory. Mr. Bush called upon the international community to provide aid to the Palestinians in order to help realize this goal.

Bush also said that the Arab nations of the region need to reach out to Israel. He thanked the Arab League for its peace initiative.

Serious negotiations must begin in earnest if the peace process is to be successful, according to Mr. Bush. He praised both Abbas and Olmert for deciding to continue holding regular summit meetings.

"I share with these two leaders the vision of two democratic states, Israel and Palestine, living side by side in peace and security," stated Mr. Bush.

The president laid out a strong statement in support of the creation of a Palestinian state. He called for an end to the occupation that began in 1967 and the creation of a Palestinian state that is "viable, contiguous, sovereign, and independent."

In order to realize that goal both sides must commit to realizing a set of mutually beneficial objectives, according to Mr. Bush. The first of the president's goals was to provide security for Israel. The second goal is to provide for the creation of a viable Palestinian state.

But the president noted that the path to peace would not be an easy one. He called on both sides to accept seemingly painful concessions. The president emphasized the need for each side to remain open to negotiations on the issue of territorial borders, particularly on the issue of Jerusalem. He also emphasized the need for the international community to help resolve the Palestinian refugee crisis, raising the possibility of compensation for refugees.

Both sides needed to put an end to practices that threaten to derail the peace process, according to Mr. Bush. He called on Palestinians to work to stop terrorist attacks against Israel. And he called on Israel to halt the expansion of Jewish settlements into Palestinian territory.

Mr. Bush tempered his calls for a Palestinian state by noting that the security of Israel remained a top priority for the United States. "No agreement and no Palestinian state will be born of terror," he said.