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Photo: Kobi Kantor
Olmert
Photo: Kobi Kantor
Abbas
Photo: AP

PA officials 'easing demands for peace conference'

Prime Minister Olmert's optimistic speech on peace negotiations this week encourages Palestinian officials ahead of Annapolis summit; officials say they are willing to drop demand for a statehood plan before conference

Encouraged by a conciliatory speech by Israel's prime minister, Palestinian negotiators have eased their demands that an upcoming US-hosted peace conference lay out a plan for statehood, officials said Thursday, fueling new optimism among the summit's participants.

 

The Palestinian officials said they were pleased with Israeli pledges to resume peace talks after the conference - and were now less concerned about a pre-summit understanding that had bogged down earlier negotiations.

 

Israeli, Palestinian and US officials have all indicated in recent days that sticking points are slowly being resolved, clearing the way for the conference to take place at the end of this month.

 

In a speech Sunday night, Israeli Prime Minister Ehud Olmert declared "now is the time" to sign a deal. The following day Palestinian President Mahmoud Abbas said he had received "encouraging signs" from Israel. Standing next to Abbas, US Secretary of State Condoleezza Rice said she was "tremendously impressed by the seriousness" of both sides.

 

The sudden shift in tone contrasts sharply with disagreements that have plagued the summit preparations for weeks. Those differences focused on a joint document the

sides hoped to present at the conference.

 

Abbas, US 'encouraged'

Palestinian officials said Abbas was especially encouraged by Olmert's speech Sunday night, during which the Israeli leader suggested that a deal could be reached by the end of

the Bush administration in January 2009.

 

A US diplomat said Washington is encouraged by the latest Palestinian position, which appears to jibe with Israeli and American thinking.

 

"We've never envisioned Annapolis as a meeting that hammers out core issues, but rather sets the stage for parties to work on the core issues in an atmosphere of confidence," said the diplomat.

 

An official date for the conference, and formal invitations, are expected to be announced within the next 10 days.

 


פרסום ראשון: 11.08.07, 21:59
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