U.S. President George W. Bush and Israeli Prime Minister Ehud Olmert have voiced support for Palestinian President Mahmoud Abbas in his struggle with the militant group Hamas.
Mr. Bush and Mr. Olmert made their remarks Tuesday as they held talks at the White House on re-starting the Mideast peace process.
Mr. Bush called Mr. Abbas the president "of all the Palestinians." Mr. Olmert said he is going to make every effort to cooperate with Mr. Abbas.
President Bush also said the hope is President Abbas and Prime Minister Salam Fayyad will be strengthened to where they can lead the Palestinians in a different direction.
Mr. Abbas of the Fatah group dismissed the Hamas-led Palestinian government last week and on Sunday swore in a new Cabinet headed by Mr. Fayyad, an independent economist.
Hamas seized control of the Gaza Strip last week in fierce fighting with Fatah, which remains in control of the West Bank.
On Monday, the United States and European Union said they plan to resume direct aid to the new Palestinian government now that Hamas is not included.
In another diplomatic move, Egypt announced Tuesday it is moving its embassy from Gaza to the West Bank. Egypt has had a diplomatic presence in Gaza for more than a decade, and has condemned Hamas's takeover of the territory.
Mr. Bush and Mr. Olmert made their remarks Tuesday as they held talks at the White House on re-starting the Mideast peace process.
Mr. Bush called Mr. Abbas the president "of all the Palestinians." Mr. Olmert said he is going to make every effort to cooperate with Mr. Abbas.
President Bush also said the hope is President Abbas and Prime Minister Salam Fayyad will be strengthened to where they can lead the Palestinians in a different direction.
Mr. Abbas of the Fatah group dismissed the Hamas-led Palestinian government last week and on Sunday swore in a new Cabinet headed by Mr. Fayyad, an independent economist.
Hamas seized control of the Gaza Strip last week in fierce fighting with Fatah, which remains in control of the West Bank.
On Monday, the United States and European Union said they plan to resume direct aid to the new Palestinian government now that Hamas is not included.
In another diplomatic move, Egypt announced Tuesday it is moving its embassy from Gaza to the West Bank. Egypt has had a diplomatic presence in Gaza for more than a decade, and has condemned Hamas's takeover of the territory.