Bush predicts Middle East deal before he leaves office

Published on Thursday 10 January 2008 13:32

AMERICAN President George Bush told Palestinians today he believed they would sign a peace treaty with Israel within a year that would give them their own state.

Challenging sceptics on the first US presidential visit to the West Bank city of Ramallah, Mr Bush told a news conference with President Mahmoud Abbas: "I believe it's going to happen, that there will be a signed peace treaty by the time I leave office."

He added: "I am confident that with proper help, the state of Palestine will emerge."

Officials have said that any treaty signed by the time President Bush steps down next January would not lead to the immediate creation of a new state.

A number of formalities would remain and Israel has made it clear it will not end its occupation of the West Bank until it is sure that its own territory is safe from attack.

Mr Bush also said that he was unsure that the isolation of the Gaza Strip, a major part of any future state, could be solved within the year.

Abbas lost control of the enclave in June to Hamas Islamists who are fighting Israeli forces.

Hamas hostility to the peace talks is a major obstacle to any peace deal.