World reactions to Mideast Peace Summit

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Source: CCTV.com | 11-28-2007 08:59

President Bush, center, looks on as Israeli Prime Minister Ehud Olmert, left, and Palestinian President Mahmoud Abbas shake hands at the opening session of the Mideast conference at the U.S. Naval Academy in Annapolis, Md., Tuesday, Nov. 27, 2007.  (AP Photo/Gerald Herbert)

There have been mixed reactions to the US-sponsored Mideast peace conference. As leaders gathered for the peace talks, new clashes in Gaza cast a shadow on the event.

German Foreign Minister Frank-Walter Steinmeier is attending the peace conference as president of the Group of Eight.

He expressed optimism But he also says there are many hurdles in the way of lasting peace and the months after the summit are even more important.

Frank-Walter Steinmeier, German Foreign Minister, said, "This attempt at Israeli-Palestinian rapprochement, and the resolution of all those open questions that stand in the way of the final status, is crucial. Now is the time to create preconditions to enable Israelis and Palestinians to live together in peace and in a good neighborhood."

Steinmeier will use the chance to promote an European Action plan aimed at boosting the Palestinian security services and economy.

In Cairo, university students took part in a demonstration to protest against the conference.

Students say the aim of the talks is only to improve the image of the US.

Palestinian President Mahmoud Abbas (R) meets German Foreign Minister Frank-Walter Steinmeier in Annapolis, Maryland November 27, 2007. REUTERS/Loay Abu Haykel (UNITED STATES)

Ahmed Mustafa, student, said, "The Annapolis Conference is not held for Arab rights. The hidden significance behind this conference is selling Palestinians, Gaza and the refugees."

In Jerusalem, thousands of hardline Israelis gathered for a mass prayer and protested against the peace talks.

They say the city must not be divided, and partition will worsen the Arab-Israeli conflict.

And violence continues in Gaza, just hours before the conference opens.

An Israeli air strike killed one Hamas militant in northern Gaza on early Tuesday.

An army spokeswoman says Israeli aircraft fired at two gunmen who were approaching the security fence and apparently planting a device.

This incident brings the total of militants killed in less than 24 hours.to four.

Editor:Zhang Pengfei