The leaders of Middle Eastern nations, in Washington for the start of a new session of direct talks between the Israelis and the Palestinians, Wednesday expressed their hopes that the negotiations would result in a final peace in the region.
But, speaking to the press prior to a working dinner hosted by President Barack Obama, their remarks also show the deep divisions and disagreements that the talks must overcome.
Israeli Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu affirmed his commitment to forging a "secure and durable" peace with the Palestinians.
"We don't seek a brief interlude between two wars. We don't seek a temporary respite between outbursts of terror," Netanyahu said. "We seek a peace that will end the conflict between us once and for all. We seek a peace that will last for generations -- our generation, our children's generation, and the next."
He added, "This is the peace my people fervently want. This is the peace all our peoples fervently aspire to. This is the peace they deserve."
But while Netanyahu said that his people must learn to live together with the Palestinians, he noted that a series of terror attacks in the West Bank that Hamas has claimed responsibility for highlight his country's need for security.
"This is not a theoretic request for our people. We left Lebanon, and we got terror. We left Gaza, and we got terror once again," he said. "We want to ensure that territory we'll concede will not be turned into a third Iranian-sponsored terror enclave armed at the heart of Israel."
He added, to the president of the Palestinian authority, "President [Mahmoud] Abbas, we cannot erase the past, but it is within our power to change the future. … Let today be an auspicious step in our joint effort to realize that ancient vision for a better future."
For his part Abbas, speaking through a translator, also reiterated his commitment to peace but also highlighted several obstacles to the process.
"We will draw on years of experience in negotiations and benefit from the lessons learned to make these negotiations successful," Abbas said.
He added, "We also reiterate our commitment to carry out all our obligations, and we call on the Israelis to carry out their obligations, including a freeze on settlements activities, which is not setting a precondition but a call to implement an agreed obligation and to end all the closure and blockade, preventing freedom of movement, including the [Gaza] siege."
Other issues that Abbas said must be addressed include the governance of Jerusalem, refugees, security, water and the Palestinian prisoners held by Israel.
"The people of our area are looking for peace that achieves freedom, independence, and justice to the Palestinian people in their country and in their homeland and in the diaspora," he said.
He added, "We want a peace that will correct the historical injustice caused by the [war] of 1948, and one that brings security to our people and the Israeli people. And we want peace that will give us both and the people of the region a new era where we enjoy just peace, stability, and prosperity."
Abbas also condemned the attacks that seem aimed at derailing the talks before they even officially begin Thursday.
"We do not want at all that any blood be shed, one drop of blood … from the Israelis or the Palestinians," Abbas said. "We want people in the two countries to lead a normal life. We want them to live as neighbors and partners forever."
He added, "Let us sign an agreement, a final agreement, for peace, and put an end to a very long period of struggle forever."
Obama, speaking at the end of the remarks, which also included statements of optimism from Egyptian President Hosni Mubarak and King Abdullah II of Jordan, emphasized that this was just the beginning of the process.
"I particularly want to commend Prime Minister Netanyahu and President Abbas for their presence here. This is not easy," Obama said. "Both of them have constituencies with legitimate claims, legitimate concerns, and a lot of history between them. For them to be here, to be willing to take this first step -- the most difficult step -- is a testament to their courage and their integrity and I think their vision for the future."
He added, "I am hopeful -- cautiously hopeful, but hopeful -- that we can achieve the goal that all four of these leaders articulated."
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