CRI听力：Mixed Reactions from the Bush-Olmert News Conference

Anchor: The joint news conference held by Bush and Olmert has drawn mixed reactions from Israelis and Palestinians.

CRI's Liao Jibo reports.

Ann: In Tel Aviv, some residents had low expectations of the outcome of the first visit by the US President.

"I think Bush is near the end of his presidency and he's trying to do things that will make him look good at the end of his presidency. It's basically symbolic and I don't think it has any real meaning."

At the news conference Bush said "illegal" Israeli outposts in disputed land have got to go. He also told Palestinians that no part of their territories could be safe haven for "terrorists".

The remarks were shrugged off by Danny Dayan, chairman of the Yesha Council, a right-wing pro-settler's group.

"He's raising expectations that will not be fulfilled. They will bring more frustration to this area and unfortunately in this area frustration brings violence, not peace."

In Gaza, Hamas spokesman Taher Nunu said he thought the US leader had "nothing new" for the Palestinians.

"Bush has nothing new for the Palestinians. The focus was on Iran and security in the Middle East, he said, which warns of upcoming moves in the region, either a new Israeli aggression or a joint attack on areas of the region."

The US president Bush, who is in his final term of Presidency, said he was very hopeful he could achieve an agreement.

But Palestinian legislator Hanan Ashrawi said she saw "nothing new in the press conference".

"There was nothing new in the press conference. It seemed as if in itself the visit is the objective, the visit itself the substance rather that what the purpose of the visit was in order to bring about genuine negotiations."

In November, at a peace conference sponsored by Bush in Annapolis, Maryland, Israeli and Palestinian leaders agreed to restart long frozen peace talks and aim for a peace agreement by the end of 2008, before Bush leaves office.

Liao Jibo, CRI News.