Subscribe to Print Edition | Fri., March 28, 2008 Adar2 22, 5768 | | Israel Time: 21:59 (EST+7) web haaretz.com   Back to Homepage Rosner's Domain Diplomacy Defense Jewish World Opinion National Print Edition Advertising Books Arts & Leisure Business Real Estate Easy Start Travel Week's End Anglo File

U.S. President George Bush and Palestinian President Mahmoud Abbas during their meeting in Ramallah earlier this year. (AP) Last update - 18:47 27/03/2008 Bush invites Abbas to U.S. for talks on Palestinian state By News Agencies Tags: Mahmoud Abbas, Israel  U.S. President George W. Bush has invited Palestinian President Mahmoud Abbas to the White House in early May for talks aimed at advancing the Israeli-Palestinian peace process, White House spokesman Gordon Johndroe said on Thursday. Abbas has been invited for around May 1, though the details of the visit are still being worked out, Johndroe told reporters on Air Force One as the president was en route to Ohio to deliver a speech on the Iraq war. Aides to Abbas said on Wednesday the Palestinian leader had been invited for April 24. The White House meeting with Abbas is part of a continuing effort "to work with the Palestinians and the Israelis as well as other countries in the region in realizing a Palestinian state living side by side in peace and security with Israel," Johndroe said. Advertisement Bush launched Israeli-Palestinian peace talks in Annapolis, Maryland, in November aimed at addressing sensitive final status issues such as Jerusalem, the fate of Palestinian refugees, Jewish settlements and borders. Bush made his first presidential visit to Israel and the West Bank in January and is expected to make another trip in May. The Abbas visit to Washington is expected to precede Bush's trip to the Middle East. The announcement comes amid a series of Middle East visits by U.S. officials. Rice leaves for the region on Friday and Vice President Dick Cheney visited the area last week. Johndroe said Bush's invitation toAbbas was not spurred by Cheney's visit. "This is not the result of one specific meeting but just part of the continuing process that the president has committed to," Johndroe said. Abbas told reporters in Ramallah on Wednesday that talks between chief Palestinian negotiator Amed Qureia and Foreign Minister Tzipi Livni had tackled "all the core issues without exception: Jerusalem, refugees, settlements, borders, and security." "We hope to achieve a settlement in 2008, there are many obstacles but we hope they will be removed. We are all pressing to reach a settlement by the target date," Abbas said. Related articles: Barak confirms transfer of armored vehicles to PA Rights group: Deaths in IDF Bethlehem raid were apparent executions Syrian FM: Israel must show commitment to peace process Bookmark to del.icio.us   Terror online Israel posts clips on YouTube of J'lem yeshiva terror attack. Remembering Gaza Knesset approves bill to commemorate the Jewish settlements of Gush Katif.   1.   Bush needs to get Abbas to accept Israel as Jewish state 17:37  |  Sam 27/03/08   2.   Bush needs to get Nelson Mandela to Accept a White South Africa 18:27  |  Sam 2 27/03/08   3.   Invitation 21:25  |  Mary 27/03/08   4.   Sam 2 -Israel is 75.6% Jewish, 20% Arab as of 2008 21:52  |  Sam 27/03/08   5.   Here is the problem with Israel 22:48  |  European 27/03/08   6.   Bush need to also get the jews to accept the US as a Christian 22:52  |  State! :) 27/03/08   7.   Abbas invitation 23:10  |  Rodney 27/03/08   8.   5.Rodney,israel is illegally Occupying Palestinian land,which was 23:57  |  lakshmi 27/03/08   9.   RELIGIOUS FREEDOM FOR ALL 00:03  |  JI aka Yussef Gideon 28/03/08   10.   Disarm enemy or be disarmed 00:23  |  Bible scholar 28/03/08   11.   Does he get to visit Crawford? 01:23  |  Aphemia 28/03/08   12.   8.Lakshmi, you are incorrect 21:26  |  Rodney 28/03/08

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