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Bush 'to focus on Mid-East peace' US 'wants Palestinian state now'
(about 2 hours later)
The US secretary of state says President George Bush has decided to make ending the Israeli-Palestinian conflict one of his highest priorities. The US secretary of state has said it is time for a Palestinian state to be founded, and that the US will put its full weight behind such efforts.
The current moves to re-start talks were the most serious effort to resolve the conflict in many years, she said. Condoleezza Rice said she and President George Bush would make finding a two-state solution a priority for the remainder of their terms in office.
Ms Rice is in the West Bank, where she has been trying to salvage a peace conference planned for next month. Ms Rice was speaking from the West Bank, where she has been trying to get agreement for a peace summit in the US.
She said the conference would have to be "serious and substantive".
"We frankly have better things to do than invite people" to the planned conference in Annapolis, Maryland, "for a photo op," said Ms Rice.
The Palestinians have warned that if no tightly-worded text is agreed on which to base talks, they will not attend.The Palestinians have warned that if no tightly-worded text is agreed on which to base talks, they will not attend.
The Israelis say they do not believe an agreed text is necessary.The Israelis say they do not believe an agreed text is necessary.
After a first round of talks with Israeli leaders on Sunday, Ms Rice's aides indicated the conference might have to be postponed unless an agreement is reached regarding the statement.
Ms Rice's motorcade was delayed for a quarter of an hour by a security alert during which her vehicle took cover in an Israeli fire station.Ms Rice's motorcade was delayed for a quarter of an hour by a security alert during which her vehicle took cover in an Israeli fire station.
'Serious' conference Strong words
At a news conference with Mr Abbas, Ms Rice said President Bush planned to focus his efforts on achieving a resolution to the long-running Israeli-Palestinian conflict. "Frankly it is time for the establishment of a Palestinian state," Ms Rice told reporters in the news conference, which she held with the Palestinian leader Mahmoud Abbas.
She said the US regarded a two-state solution "as absolutely essential for the future, not just of Palestinians and Israelis but also for the Middle East and indeed for American interests".
Every time I visit, the situation seems to have worsened John Dugard,UN special rapporteur Quartet's 'deaf ears'Every time I visit, the situation seems to have worsened John Dugard,UN special rapporteur Quartet's 'deaf ears'
"The president has decided to make this one of the highest priorities of his administration and of his time in office," she said. She said Mr Bush would make finding a resolution a top priority of his time in office, and that she would devote her "last ounce of energy" to the issue.
"It means he is absolutely serious about moving this issue forward and moving it as rapidly as possible to conclusion." Mr Abbas said Israeli and Palestinian negotiators were working together to agree ways to end the conflict.
She said the peace conference planned to be held in Annapolis, Maryland, should be "serious and substantive". "We are working on a joint document with the Israeli side. The document will set out the basis of the solutions to the final status issues: Jerusalem, borders, settlements, refugees, security, water and bilateral relations," he said.
"We frankly have better things to do that invite people to Annapolis for a photo op," she said. The Israelis and Palestinians have previously clashed on the next for an agreed document before the conference, touted for November or the following month.
But she said she sensed a "seriousness and commitment" in the attitudes of Mr Abbas and Israeli Prime Minister Ehud Olmert, making "this is the most serious effort to try to end this conflict in many, many years". But Ms Rice said she sensed a "seriousness and commitment" in the attitudes of Mr Abbas and Israeli Prime Minister Ehud Olmert, making "this is the most serious effort to try to end this conflict in many, many years".
UN 'failure'
Earlier, the UN human rights envoy to the Occupied Territories strongly criticised the Quartet group trying to promote an Israeli-Palestinian peace process, saying it is not doing enough to challenge Israel's restrictions on the movement of Palestinians.Earlier, the UN human rights envoy to the Occupied Territories strongly criticised the Quartet group trying to promote an Israeli-Palestinian peace process, saying it is not doing enough to challenge Israel's restrictions on the movement of Palestinians.
Speaking to the BBC, John Dugard said he thought the UN might soon need to withdraw from the Quartet - made up of the UN, the US, the EU and Russia - because it was "failing in its duty to the Palestinian people".Speaking to the BBC, John Dugard said he thought the UN might soon need to withdraw from the Quartet - made up of the UN, the US, the EU and Russia - because it was "failing in its duty to the Palestinian people".
The BBC correspondent in Jerusalem says it is unusual for such criticisms to be voiced publicly.
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A UN source in Jerusalem dismissed Mr Dugard's comments, saying his views were well known and went well beyond his brief.
The source said membership of the Quartet gave the UN a chance to "have influence" in finding a resolution to the conflict.
Mr Dugard is a special rapporteur - an independent expert appointed by the UN secretary general to present reports on human rights to the organisation. Dpecial rapporteurs are advisers and do not decide UN policy.
"Every time I visit, the situation seems to have worsened," he said in a BBC interview.
Mr Dugard attributed a "sense of hopelessness" among Palestinians to "the crushing effect of human rights violations", and in particular Israeli restrictions on Palestinians' freedom of movement.