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| Bush meets Abbas at White House | |
| (about 1 hour later) | |
| US President George W Bush has been meeting Palestinian leader Mahmoud Abbas amid continuing efforts to boost the Middle East peace process. | |
| Mr Abbas had earlier said the gaps between Palestinians and Israelis were still wide, singling out Israeli settlement activity. | |
| The talks in Washington come ahead of Mr Bush's planned trip to Israel and several Arab countries next month. | The talks in Washington come ahead of Mr Bush's planned trip to Israel and several Arab countries next month. |
| He is seeking a peace settlement before he leaves office in January. | He is seeking a peace settlement before he leaves office in January. |
| Progress has been slow since the Annapolis peace conference five months ago and there is deep scepticism about the chances of reaching a settlement, correspondents say. | Progress has been slow since the Annapolis peace conference five months ago and there is deep scepticism about the chances of reaching a settlement, correspondents say. |
| Truce proposal | Truce proposal |
| During his trip to Washington Mr Abbas has appealed for the Israelis to stop building settlements on disputed land so that peace talks can proceed. | |
| The settlements were the main obstacle to peace, he said, adding that time was running out if the goals set at Annapolis were to be met. | The settlements were the main obstacle to peace, he said, adding that time was running out if the goals set at Annapolis were to be met. |
| The Palestinian leader has already held talks with Secretary of State Condoleezza Rice and US lawmakers. | The Palestinian leader has already held talks with Secretary of State Condoleezza Rice and US lawmakers. |
| The US has been trying to shore up support for Mr Abbas after the Palestinian Authority that he heads lost control of the Gaza Strip to Hamas. | The US has been trying to shore up support for Mr Abbas after the Palestinian Authority that he heads lost control of the Gaza Strip to Hamas. |
| At the White House on Wednesday, King Abdullah of Jordan pressed for a timetable for negotiations towards Palestinian statehood, something the US has been reluctant to give. | At the White House on Wednesday, King Abdullah of Jordan pressed for a timetable for negotiations towards Palestinian statehood, something the US has been reluctant to give. |
| In Cairo on Thursday, Hamas leaders gave Egyptian negotiators proposals for a truce in the Gaza Strip that could later be extended to the West Bank. | In Cairo on Thursday, Hamas leaders gave Egyptian negotiators proposals for a truce in the Gaza Strip that could later be extended to the West Bank. |
| Hamas had previously said a truce for both areas had to begin at the same time. | Hamas had previously said a truce for both areas had to begin at the same time. |
| Egypt is expected to relay the proposals to Israel in coming days. | Egypt is expected to relay the proposals to Israel in coming days. |