New Hope for the Middle East

Nov. 28, 2007 — -- For the first time in seven years, there's hope for the Middle East peace process after a conference in Maryland Tuesday.

Meanwhile, overnight, there was a seismic shift in the balance of power in one of the key players in the war on terror -- Pakistan. And an ongoing outrage over a human rights violation in Saudi Arabia may finally be taken seriously.

President Bush met with Israeli and Palestinian leaders Tuesday in Annapolis, Md., in an effort to kick-start a new and final round of peace talks. It's the first time since 2000 that the United States has made a major push for peace and it appeared that all parties were eager to reach a settlement.

"What has been remarkable about this process is that they're now ready to go," U.S. Secretary of State Condoleezza Rice told Robin Roberts on "GMA" this morning. "Arab states that have not been as active in the peace process in the past were there in the room, including Saudi Arabia."

Both sides committed themselves to a peace process that may result in a final settlement by the end of 2008. The success of Annapolis will largely depend on the commitment of Bush and Rice, many observers believe.

"We will do everything we can because this conflict really has gone on too long," said Rice. "The president has made clear that he will do everything that he can in the time remaining to him to try and move this forward."

And it looks as if Bush is living up to his word. Just 24 hours after getting Israeli and Palestinian leaders to agree to talks, Bush invited the pair to the White House to ceremonially inaugurate the long-awaited formal, direct negotiations.

Today he is scheduled to first meet separately with Palestinian President Mahmoud Abbas and Israeli Prime Minister Ehud Olmert, and then get them together for an afternoon session declaring the talks formally under way.

Convening the summit represents a significant shift in U.S. foreign policy that some consider an attempt by Bush to leave a legacy. Carter, Reagan and Clinton each made last-ditch attempts at peace in the region at the end of their administrations.