Nov 28 (Reuters) - Following is a selection of quotes from U.S. President George W. Bush, Palestinian President Mahmoud Abbas and Israeli Prime Minister Ehud Olmert, and their advisers after Wednesday's ceremonial resumption of the first formal Middle East peace talks in seven years.

Bush:

"I'm going to absolutely help. ... I'll make sure, as will the Secretary of State, that when they're stuck we'll help them get unstuck," he said in an interview with CNN.

When asked if he was prepared to go to Israel and the Palestinian territories, he replied: "Going to a region in itself is not going to unstick negotiations. ...It is working with the principals ... That's how you get things done. Now if I have to call them together, I will."

Asked about Iran's President Mahmoud Ahmadinejad statements that he would like to destroy Israel, Bush said, "If I were an Israeli, I would take his words seriously." On whether the U.S. would respond militarily if Iran attacked Israel, he said, "I have made it clear that the -- absolutely, that we will support our ally Israel if attacked by Iran."

Abbas:

"This trip was in the first place for a specific target and we have reached this target which is launching the final status talks," he told reporters.

"The American president has shown determination towards reaching a peace treaty during his term so he is heading in that direction and we respect that," he added.

"We have accomplished putting the train on the track. Now the train needs coal, electricity and iron," he said.

Olmert:

"I want to remind you we said we'd make every effort to reach an agreement by 2008 but we didn't commit to completing it by 2008," Olmert told reporters.

"The track record of American security guys in dealing with the problems on the ground in the West Bank and Gaza Strip is, I think, very satisfactory," he said of efforts headed by U.S. generals to spur peace or build up Abbas' security forces.

"Do I think there won't be arguments? I'm sure there will be and we will overcome them," Olmert said when asked about possible disputes with the United States over Jewish settlements.

White House National Security Adviser Stephen Hadley:

"We do not know where the negotiations begun at Annapolis will lead," he said in remarks for a speech on the Middle East at Johns Hopkins University on Wednesday.

"The president will not force a resolution of differences nor impose a peace plan with his name on it. ... He has made clear that he is only a phone call away."

"Having decided to pursue negotiations, it is important that they not fail. If the effort to establish a Palestinian state through negotiations is abandoned, it will appear to vindicate those who preach violence and practice terror."

Miri Eisin, Olmert's spokeswoman:

Eisin said the Bush administration was playing the role of "facilitator," adding: "It doesn't replace direct talks but it can help them along."

She told reporters even one deadly suicide bombing in a major Israeli city could bring a halt to the peace process.

On the pace of peacemaking, "We can't promise that it (negotiations) will be a year... But we're certainly going to try our hardest." (Reporting by Jeffrey Heller, Adam Entous, Tabbasum Zakaria, Sue Pleming, Mohammed Assadi, and Jeremy Pelofsky; editing by Jackie Frank)

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