US President George W. Bush is optimistic Israel and the Palestinians will sign an agreement defining a Palestinian state before the end of his term in office, a German newspaper quoted him as saying on Sunday.
"I hope that President Abbas and Prime Minister Olmert can sign an agreement before the end of my presidency (in January) that defines a clearly-outlined Palestinian state," daily Die Welt quoted Bush as saying.
"This could then immediately take shape when the conditions of the 'Road Map' are fulfilled," he said.
"But the first step must be the clear definition of the Palestinian state. I hope it's possible. And I have an optimistic feeling that it will happen."
Four months after Israel and the Palestinians launched peace talks with the goal of reaching an accord by the end of this year there is little visible progress on a deal.
The talks have been hampered by internal divisions among the Palestinians. Abbas' Fatah movement holds sway in the West Bank while Hamas, an Islamist group officially committed to Israel's destruction, seized control of the Gaza Strip last year.
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