In separate meetings with Middle East leaders Thursday, President George W. Bush applauded Lebanon's efforts to forge a national reconciliation and told Palestinian President Mahmoud Abbas that the United States has not given up hope on an agreement to create a Palestinian state. “I appreciate your determination and your desire to have a Palestinian state,” Bush told Abbas in front of reporters before a White House meeting. “I share that desire with you. It's not easy.” Bush said the administration will continue to work with Palestinian authorities on security matters and on helping to coordinate international economic assistance. “As you know, I've got four more months left in office and I'm hopeful that the vision that you and I have worked on can come to pass,” he added. Abbas, seated beside Bush, told the president that he was thankful for US support. “Hope remains,” Abbas said. “We cannot live without hope.” According to Palestinian negotiator Saeb Erekat, who attended the meeting, Abbas said Palestinians are seeking “a comprehensive agreement on all the issues, without any exception. Either there will be an agreement on all the issues or there will be no agreement.” Mideast peace talks were relaunched at a US-hosted summit last November, and with prodding from the US, Israel and the Palestinians set a year-end target for reaching a final peace accord that would end six decades of hostilities. Despite months of negotiations, there have been no apparent breakthroughs, and the sides remain at odds over key issues like the final borders between Israel and a future Palestinian state.
