AQABA, Jordan, June 4 (IslamOnline.net & News Agencies) - President George W. Bush said Wednesday, June 4, "important progress" had been made at a peace summit in the Jordanian port city of Aqaba with Palestinian Prime Minister Mahmud Abbas and Israeli Premier Ariel Sharon.

Bush said hard work, good faith and courage from all sides could help to make Middle East peace a reality. "Today we make important progress towards that goal," he said, in a statement at the close of the meeting.

Bush also said that Washington will send a team of monitors to the Middle East to help Israel and the Palestinians coordinate the implementation of the so-called "road map" for peace.

"We will place a mission on the ground led by Ambassador John Wolf. This mission will be charged with helping the parties to move towards peace, monitoring their progress and stating clearly who is fulfilling their responsibilities," Bush said

Bush, Abbas and ended their summit talks with historic pledges to end violence, revive the peace process and work toward the internationally-spinsored road map, which envisions an independent Palestinian state by 2005

At the conclusion of the 90 minute meeting, the three leaders, along with their host King Abdullah II of Jordan, strode side-by side to four identical podiums set up on the shore of the Red Sea.

For his part, Abbas - the first to talk - pledged full efforts to end the “armed Intifada” against Israeli occupation.

"We will exert our full efforts using all our resources to end the militarization of the Intifada, and we will succeed," he said, in a forceful declaration promising to meet Israeli and U.S. demands.

"The armed Intifada must end, and we must resort to peaceful means in our quest to end the occupation, the suffering of the Palestinians and the Israelis, and to establish our Palestinian state."

Saying that "there is no military solution to our conflict," Abbas added, "We repeat our denunciation and renunciation of terrorism and violence against Israelis wherever they might be.

"Such methods are inconsistent with our religious and moral traditions and are a dangerous obstacle to the achievement of an independent, sovereign state. They are also in conflict with the kind of state we wish to build for ourselves - one based on human rights and the rule of law."

"We emphasize our determination to implement the pledge we made to our people and the international community: the rule of law, a single political authority, weapons only in the hands of those charged with upholding law and order, and political diversity within the framework of democracy," Abbas said.

"We will also act vigorously against incitement to violence and hatred, whatever their form or forum may be. We will take measures to ensure that there is no incitement emanating from the Palestinian institutions."

The Palestinians will be "a full partner in the international war against terrorism, and we call upon our partners in this war to prevent financial and military assistance to those who oppose this position," Abbas added.

But he warned that "In order to succeed there must be a clear improvement in the lives of the Palestinians.

"Palestinians must live in dignity. Palestinians must be able to move, go to their jobs and schools, visit their families, and conduct a normal life. Palestinians must not be afraid for their lives, property or livelihood."

Noting the Palestinians' acceptance without reservations of the international Middle East peace plan known as the roadmap, he said earlier in his statement, "The goal is two states, Israel and Palestine, living side by side in peace and security.

"The process is one of direct negotiations to end the Israeli-Palestinian conflict, resolve all the permanent status issues, and end the occupation that began in 1967 under which Palestinians have suffered so much.

"At the same time, we do not ignore the suffering of the Jews throughout history. It is time to bring all this suffering to an end.

"Just as Israel must meet its responsibilities, we the Palestinians will fulfill our obligations for this endeavor to succeed. We are ready to do our part, and will immediately begin."

Sharon, speaking after Abbas, said it was not in Israel's interest to rule over the Palestinians. "As the prime minister of Israel, the land which is the cradle of the Jewish people, my paramount responsibility is the security of the people of Israel, and of the state of Israel. There can be no compromise with terror."

But Sharon said that there was now hope for peace between Israelis and Palestinians. "It is in Israel's interest not to govern the Palestinians, but for the Palestinians to govern themselves in their own state.

“A democratic Palestinian state fully at peace with Israel will promote the longterm security and well-being of Israel as a Jewish state. There can be no peace, however, without the abandonment and elimination of terrorism, violence and incitement."