Palestinian and Israeli Officials Agree to Peace Talks

Max Peck / March 07, 2008, 4:38 PM/ Global Political Relations / #8

Amidst the recent outbreak of violence, Israeli and Palestinian leaders have agreed to renew peace talks, although they have not specified exactly when the meetings will take place. This coincides with U.S. Secretary of State Condoleezza Rice’s visit to the region, where she put down the Hamas for failing to control their militants.

On Monday, Israel ended their five-day “military operation” in Gaza, in which 110 Palestinians and 2 Israelis were killed.

At hearing Palestinian President Mahmoud Abbas’ agreement to her strong suggestions, Rice spoke in a news conference: "I am pleased that the parties have said that they're going to resume negotiations, they intend to do that, and that contacts will begin between them to bring that about.”

President Bush expressed his unbridled optimism, saying that he would like it if they could have peace before his term as president is over.

I’m very glad to hear of these developments, and we will all have to wait and see what comes of them. It is, at least, a step in the right direction.

http://www.cnn.com/2008/WORLD/meast/03/05/rice.mideast/index.html#cnnSTCText
-Associated Press