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Photo: AFP
Olemrt. No support for plan?
Photo: AFP

Report: US 'reluctant' about convergence

Ahead of Washington summit, Landon-based al-Hayat reports US officials 'unenthusiastic' about PM Olmert's plan for unilateral withdrawal from West Bank

Officials at the United States State Department rejected the possibility that Washington would support Prime Minister Ehud Olmert's convergence plan, which calls for a unilateral withdrawl from areas in Judea and Samaria. The officials' remarks came ahead of Ehud Olmert's trip to Washington next week and were published in the London-based Arabic-language newspaper Al-Hayat.

 

One day after the meeting of Olmert's three advisors with Secretary of State Condoleezza Rice and the Administration's senior staff to coordinate Olmert's visit, the officials estimated that discussions will focus on strategic affairs between the Israelis and the Palest8inians, and the ways in which Israel plans to address the deal with Hamas.

 

The same American officials added that during Olmert's official visit, to begin on May 23, the US will stress its commitment to Israel's defense, following repeated threats by Iran. The US will also officially voice support in Israel's stance to ban the Hamas-led government.

 

'Americans want Road Map implemented'

 

Olmert's senior advisors left Washington on Monday after meeting with Rice, National Security Advisor Stephen Hadley and other senior officials.

 

American Officials estimated that the subject of Olmert's plan to dismantle some of the settlements in the West Bank will be discussed "briefly," but rejected the possibility that the US will show enthusiasm regarding such a plan since, according to them, Washington prefers to see its Road Map plan implemented instead of unilateral steps.

 

Olmert is expected to be greeted warmly during his four-day visit. He will be a guest at the "Blair House", located near the White House and will speak before the US Congress. Olmert is also scheduled to visit the Pentagon for an event planned in honor of his visit.

 


פרסום ראשון: 05.16.06, 15:39
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