Netanyahu, Abbas pledge to work for peace (2nd Roundup)

By Mike McCarthy Sep 2, 2010, 2:20 GMT

Washington - Israeli Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu and Palestinian President Mahmoud Abbas pledged to do everything possible to reach a peace agreement, ahead of Thursday's first direct negotiations between the two sides in nearly two years.

Speaking at the White House on the eve of the talks, Netanyahu referred to Abbas as 'my partner in peace,' while Abbas promised to 'spare no effort' in trying to reach a settlement.

US President Barack Obama hosted Abbas and Netanyahu, along with Egyptian President Hosny Mubarak and Jordan's King Abdullah, for dinner Wednesday evening together at the White House after holding separate meetings earlier with the four leaders. The meetings were part of Obama's push for a final settlement within a year.

'I came here to find an historic compromise that will enable both our peoples to live in peace, security and dignity,' Netanyahu said before the four leaders retreated to the private dinner.

Abbas said through a translator: 'We will spare no efforts and work tirelessly to ensure negotiations achieve their cause.'

Obama acknowledged the tremendous hurdles that must be overcome but said he was 'cautiously optimistic' that a deal was within reach if both leaders are willing to make the difficult decisions to compromise.

He vowed to place the 'full weight' of the United States behind the effort and urged the Israelis and Palestinians to seize an opportunity for peace that 'may not soon come again.'

'They can't afford to let it slip away. Now is the time for leaders of courage and vision to deliver the peace that the people deserve,' Obama said in an earlier statement.

Standing with Netanyahu after their one-on-one meeting, Obama condemned the attack near the West Bank city of Hebron on Tuesday that left four Israelis dead. Hamas, the Palestinian militant group opposed to the peace process, claimed responsibility.

'The message should go out to Hamas and everybody else who is taking credit for these heinous crimes that this is not going to stop us from not only ensuring a secure Israel but also securing a longer- lasting peace,' Obama said.

A second attack took place late Wednesday when gunmen opened fire on a vehicle in Ramallah, leaving two Israelis wounded. Netanyahu said 'thank God' there were no additional deaths, and Abbas condemned both attacks.

'We do not want at all that any blood be shed,' Abbas said.

Obama and Netanyahu, two leaders occasionally at odds, said their discussions on advancing the Israeli-Palestinian peace process were productive, with the latter adding they were 'open' as well as 'serious in the quest for peace.'

Netanyahu said the talks focused on the need for security arrangements to protect Israel from terrorist attacks: 'That is a fundamental element, an important function of the peace that we seek and work for.'

The talks come 18 months after Obama took office pledging to make a strong push for a peace agreement, and after his special envoy to the region, former senator George Mitchell, mediated months of indirect negotiations between the Israelis and Palestinians to nudge them toward direct talks.

The Obama administration has set a goal of achieving a settlement within a year, though the Israelis and Palestinians have previously been sceptical about the prospects of meeting that timeframe. But Netanyahu and Abbas both committed to reaching a deal in a year.

Abbas reiterated Palestinian demands for a freeze on all Israeli settlements on disputed land and called for an end to the 1967 Israeli occupation.

Obama maintains that all issues should be on the table, including the difficult final status issues, such as final borders of a Palestinian state, Palestinian demands for the right of refugees to return, the future of Jerusalem and Israeli settlements.

Abdullah called on both leaders to work quickly at addressing final status issues. 'Time is not on our side,' he said.

In what could be an early snag in the peace process and the focus of initial discussions, Netanyahu's moratorium on new settlement construction in the West Bank expires September 26. The Palestinians have insisted that their participation hinges on extending the freeze.

Nabil Abu Rudeineh, a spokesman for Abbas, told Israeli Radio that the renewal of construction will signal the end of the peace process.

Netanyahu, however, faces the possibility that his right-wing coalition partners will bolt from the government if he extends the ban. Israel's Channel 2 news reported that Netanyahu told Obama he will allow the moratorium to expire. Netanyahu spokesman Mark Regev would not comment on the report.

Obama has previously called on Israel to freeze settlements but did not bring up the issue in any public appearances.

Negotiations between the two sides have been started and halted many times in the last decade. The last incarnation of direct talks began at the end of 2007 and was suspended in late 2008 as Israel headed into the election campaign that brought Netanyahu to power.