(Xinhua) -- Visiting U.S. Vice President Dick Cheney claimed on Sunday that "terror and rockets" against Israel killed not only innocent civilians, but also hopes for a Palestinian state. The establishment of a Palestinian state "needs more efforts and painful concessions by both sides," Cheney said at a joint press conference held in this West Bank town with Palestinian President Madmoud Abbas. "President George W. Bush is the first U.S. president who adopts the principle of establishing an independent Palestinian state living in peace and able to live," Cheney said. "Our administration is committed to achieving this goal." Cheney arrived in Ramallah earlier in the day and held talks with Abbas. Cheney will later meet interim Palestinian Prime Minister Sallam Fayyad.