ANNAPOLIS CONFERENCE

   An international conference convened at the U.S. Naval Academy in Annapolis, Maryland, on 27 November 2007, at the invitation of the United States. The declared goals of the conference were (1) to signal international support for efforts by Palestine Liberation Organization (PLO) chairman and Palestinian Authority (PA) president Mahmoud Abbas and Israeli prime minister Ehud Olmert to commence a process of direct negotiations leading to the realization of Israeli-Palestinian peace based on the two-state formula envisioned by U.S.president George W. Bush and in the Quartet Roadmap and (2) to coordinate international support for efforts undertaken by Abbas and the Fatah-led PA to construct the institutions and culture for an independent and democratic Palestinian state.

   In opening the conference on 27 November 2007, Bush read a joint understanding coauthored by representatives of Israel and the PLO that expressed the parties' 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," Israel and the PLO undertook to "immediately launch good-faith bilateral negotiations in order to conclude a peace treaty, resolving all outstanding issues, including all core issues without exception, as specified in previous agreements." The parties agreed to "make every effort" to conclude an agreement before the end of 2008.

   See also Arab-Israeli Conflict.