Abbas to ask Obama for 'bold decisions' on Mideast

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BETHLEHEM, Palestinian Territories, June 2 (AFP): Palestinian president Mahmud Abbas Wednesday called for US President Barack Obama to make 'bold decisions' on Middle East peace and accused Israel of "terrorism."
His remarks at the opening of an investment conference in the occupied West Bank came ahead of a visit to Washington next week and days after Israel's deadly capture of an aid convoy bound for the Hamas-run Gaza Strip.
"My message to Obama during our meeting in Washington next week will be that we need bold decisions to change the face of the region," Abbas said.
He was to meet with US envoy George Mitchell later in the day for the latest round of indirect "proximity" talks with Israel launched on May 9.
"My message to all parties is that we need bold decisions to change the face of the region and end the suffering and the pain and the Israeli occupation of Palestinian lands," Abbas said.
The president spoke at the opening of the 2010 Palestine Investment Conference, which he referred to as the "Freedom Conference" in honour of those killed on Monday aboard the 'Freedom Flotilla' captured Monday.
Organisers said delegations from 26 countries would be attending the conference, including a US presidential delegation led by Mitchell. International peace envoy Tony Blair was also in attendance.
The West Bank economy saw 8.5 per cent growth last year as Israel eased some movement restrictions and hundreds of millions of dollars in international aid flowed to prime minister Salam Fayyad's Western-backed government.