Snappy newsletters. Simple Facebook sharing. Spirited comments. Sweet features are waiting… GET THEM NOW!

Bush Begins Mideast Peace Bid

First international peace gathering since 1991

By Peter Fearon,  Newser Staff

Posted Nov 27, 2007 3:10 AM CST

(Newser) – President Bush plunged headlong into the Middle East peace process yesterday, meeting with Palestinian leader Mahmoud Abbas and Israeli Prime Minister Ehud Olmert as representatives of 49 countries gathered at Annapolis for talks, the New York Times reports. “The United States cannot impose our vision but we can help facilitate," Bush told Abbas.

Bush intends to avoid what he considers the disastrous hands-on approach used by former president Clinton in 2000. “We have said from the very beginning that it is the parties themselves that have to make the peace,” said an official. One Israeli representative was cynical about the gathering, calling it "the mother of all photo-ops."

Members of the Basij paramilitary group, a powerful volunteer militia directed by the Revolutionary Guards, demonstrate against Jordan and other Middle-Eastern countries' involvement in the Annapolis Middle-East peace conference, in front of Jordan's embassy in Tehran, Iran, Monday, Nov. 26, 2007. Sign at left in Farsi reads The Supreme Leader...
Members of the Basij paramilitary group, a powerful volunteer militia directed by the Revolutionary Guards, demonstrate against Jordan and other Middle-Eastern countries' involvement in the Annapolis...   (Associated Press)
In this photo released by the Palestinian Authority ,President Bush, right,shakes hands with Palestinian President Mahmoud Abbas  in the Oval Office of the White House in Washington, Monday, Nov. 26, 2007. Bush will lend his clout Monday to help broker an elusive agreement between Israel and the Palestinians on...
In this photo released by the Palestinian Authority ,President Bush, right,shakes hands with Palestinian President Mahmoud Abbas in the Oval Office of the White House in Washington, Monday, Nov. 26,...   (Associated Press)
President Bush, right, meets with Israel's Prime Minister Ehud Olmert in the Oval Office of the White House in Washington, Monday, Nov. 26, 2007. The president will lend his clout Monday to help broker an elusive agreement between Israel and the Palestinians on the contours of long-stalled peace talks the...
President Bush, right, meets with Israel's Prime Minister Ehud Olmert in the Oval Office of the White House in Washington, Monday, Nov. 26, 2007. The president will lend his clout Monday to help broker...   (Associated Press)
« Prev« Prev | Next »Next » Slideshow
To report an error on this story, notify our editors.
A snapshot of the day's best news stories.
 
COMMENTS
Be the first to comment on this story.

More Newser Stories

Abbas Freezes Peace Talks With Israel

Mideast Talks Tackle 'Core Issues'

Bush Calls for End to Israeli 'Occupation'

Olmert and Abbas Aim for Pact by End of 2008

Bush Meets With Olmert, Abbas


NEWS FROM OUR PARTNERS
Other Sites We Like:   24/7 Wall St.   |   Betty Confidential   |   BuzzFeed   |   Cracked   |   Fark   |   Timelines   |   The Frisky   |   Geek Sugar   |   NewsOne