Israeli and Palestinian prime ministers addressed their people on Tuesday and announced their rededication to the peace process, using conciliatory language not heard in three years. Palestinian Prime Minister Mahmoud Abbas and his Israeli counterpart Ariel Sharon met to discuss recent negotiations and agreed to form a high-level committee to discuss key issues dividing the two sides.

In this rare joint appearance, the two leaders praised the accomplishments of the last few days and discussed how to keep building upon them. Their recommitment marked a significant move toward implementing the U.S.-backed ‘roadmap’ to peace. Their main points of discussion included Israel’s release of Palestinian prisoners and claims that both sides incite hatred toward the other.

The prime ministers agreed to reactivate committees set up during the first years of the peace effort in the early 1990s, which were suspended during the current violence. The committees are assigned to discuss specific issues, including security, prisoners and legal matters. Reinforcing the condition to the cease-fire truce made by Palestinian factions on Sunday, Palestinian leaders emphasized the need for Israel to release Palestinian prisoners in order for true peace to move forward. There are currently about 8,000 Palestinians in Israeli prisons.

Palestinians also asked Israel to lift travel restrictions on their president, Yasser Arafat, who has been confined by troops to his West Bank headquarters in Ramallah for more than a year. They requested that Sharon allow Arafat to travel. Sharon consented to let him go to Gaza but hinted that he would not be able to return.

Overall, Palestinian Information Minister Nabil Amr described the meeting as “serious” and something upon which both sides can build. However, he added, “we must see what happens on the ground. The Palestinians want to see that something has changed in their lives.”

Abbas, standing behind his lectern beside Sharon in the televised address, said that the two people need to put the past behind them.

“Enough suffering, enough death, enough pain. Let us stride forward with courage and without hesitation to the future we all deserve,” Abbas said.

Sharon also made public statements reflecting support for peaceful compromises. However, Israeli right-wingers gathered and aggressively protested the meeting and the statements of peace made by both leaders.

Officials in the closed meeting between Sharon, Abbas and their ministerial cabinet reported that the two leaders said that they can work together and that the conditions set forth on Tuesday are promising for future progress. They agreed to meet again next week.

Israeli and Palestinian security officials, meanwhile, made final arrangements for the withdrawal of Israeli troops from the West Bank city of Bethlehem on Wednesday. Last night, The Israeli army even begin to remove concrete blocks from roads in preparation for today’s pullback.

However, Bethlehem residents are sceptical. They are still not allowed to travel outside city limits and worry that the building of a security barrier will separate the town from Jerusalem and confiscate Palestinian land. Bethlehem mayor Hana Nasser even urged the Palestine National Authority not take security responsibility of the city if Israeli troops do not hand over annexed and confiscated Palestinian land and do not remove the wall separating Bethlehem from Jerusalem.

On the other side, the Israeli news media reported that similar troop removals from other West Bank cities could occur within four to eight weeks, if both sides stick to their agreements.