Palestinian President Mahmoud Abbas expressed confidence Monday a solution would be found to the Middle East crisis before the end of 2008. He also stressed the importance of reconciliation with Hamas.
Abbas, who arrived in Indonesia on Sunday, is seeking support from Muslim allies in Asia ahead of a US-hosted conference involving Israel and the Palestinians. His first stop was Malaysia, and he is scheduled to travel next to Brunei.
The gathering, to be held in November or December, will seek a joint declaration outlining a way for the two sides to return to the negotiating table after seven years of bloodshed and diplomatic paralysis.
Washington hopes it will relaunch negotiations to create a Palestinian state.
"Before the end of 2008, we will have found the real solution we have been hoping for," Abbas said after meeting with Indonesian President Susilo Bambang Yudhoyono.
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