Bush Calls for Mideast Peace Conference

Rice will chair talks seen as step toward '2-state solution'
By Marie Morris,  Newser Staff
Posted Jul 16, 2007 6:38 PM CDT
Bush Calls for Mideast Peace Conference
Palestinian Ali Abdul Muhyee,47, right, and his daughter Raghad, 6, watch United States President George Bush during a televised speech at their home in the West Bank city of Ramallah, Monday, July 16, 2007. President Bush on Monday announced an international conference this fall to include Israel,...   (Associated Press)

In a bid to restart Mideast peace talks, the US will sponsor a summit of nations that "recognize Israel's right to exist" this fall, President Bush said today. He backed up his support for the "two-state solution" by reiterating a pledge of $190 million in aid to the Palestinians, the Times reports.

The president also committed $80 million to helping the Abbas government beef up security, backing up his support for the Fatah-led regime that controls the West Bank. He announced that Secretary of State Rice will chair the peace conference but wasn't specific about the guest list; the requirement that participants back Israel apparently excludes Iran and Syria. (More George W. Bush stories.)

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