JOINT UNDERSTANDING READ BY PRESIDENT BUSH AT ANNAPOLIS CONFERENCE

Buchanan House, United States Naval Academy Annapolis, Maryland

PRESIDENT BUSH: The representatives of the government of the state of Israel and the Palestinian Liberation Organization, represented respective by Prime Minister Ehud Olmert, and President Mahmoud Abbas in his capacity as Chairman of the PLO Executive Committee and President of the Palestinian Authority, have convened in Annapolis, Maryland, under the auspices of President George W. Bush of the United States of America, and with the support of the participants of this international conference, having concluded the following joint understanding.

We express our determination to bring an end to bloodshed, suffering and decades of conflict between our peoples; to usher in a new era of peace, based on freedom, security, justice, dignity, respect and mutual recognition; to propagate a culture of peace and nonviolence; to confront terrorism and incitement, whether committed by Palestinians or Israelis. In furtherance of the goal of two states, Israel and Palestine, living side by side in peace and security, we agree to immediately launch good-faith bilateral negotiations in order to conclude a peace treaty, resolving all outstanding issues... We agree to engage in vigorous, ongoing and continuous negotiations, and shall make every effort to conclude an agreement before the end of 2008.

Read the complete press release here at Koenigs International News. See related article by Bill Wilson, The Two Real Sides Of Annapolis Physical and Spiritual and Bill Koenig's analysis in this piece, 2007: Nine Major FEMA Disasters and Two Major Crises Coincide with U.S. Involvement in the Israel "Peace" Process