US president George Bush rolled out the White House red carpet for Palestinianpime minister Mahmoud Abbas today and announced steps aimed at easing poverty amongPalestinians.
He assured Mr Abbas that the US was committed to ensuring free and secure statesfor both Palestine and Israel.
The five star welcome contrasted sharply with the virtual two year boycott ofPalestinian leader Mr Yasser Arafat by the Bush administration.
After talks with Mr Abbas, Mr Bush said two members of his Cabinet will travel toIsrael in the autumn to begin work on bringing jobs and development toPalestinian areas.
He said he told Mr Abbas that the United States would "strive to see thatpromises are kept," and monitor the progress toward creating a Palestinianstate alongside a secure Israel.
"This is the time of possibility in the Middle East," Mr Bush said. "People inthe region are counting on the leaders to seize opportunities for peace andprogress."
Mr Abbas, making his first visit to the White House, thanked Bush for $12 millionin direct assistance to Palestinians, and for making "relentless efforts" topursue peace.
But he said that for peace to work, the Israelis must live up to theircommitments about removing Jewish outposts on the West Bank. "All settlementactivities must be stopped and the wall must come down," he said.
"A transformation of human conditions on the ground must occur," Mr Abbas said."Attacks on the dignity of Palestinians must end."
"We have succeeded significantly where Israel with its military might hasfailed in reducing violence and we will continue," Mr Abbas said.
Mr Bush was sympathetic to Mr Abbas' demands, and said he had talked to IsraeliPrime Minister Mr Ariel Sharon about the wall designed to restrict the movement ofPalestinians into Israel.
"These are all difficult issues," Mr Bush said. "These are issues where therehave been no discussion before, and now we're putting them on the table."