Originally published by the Voice of America (www.voanews.com).
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December 2, 2007

Israel Lowers Expectations for Peace Deal by End of 2008
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http://enews.voanews.com/t?ctl=1A71A60:A6F02AD83191E1600BCC7BBCDD08032FF47489ACC27D21EE& PM Ehud Olmert
says there can be no peace agreement until Palestinians carry out
their commitments under 'Road Map' peace plan There were high hopes
for peace in the Middle East after last week's summit in Annapolis,
Maryland. But now, the mood is not as optimistic, as Robert Berger
reports from the VOA bureau in Jerusalem.







President Bush, center, Israeli PM Ehud Olmert, left, and Palestinian
President Mahmoud Abbas in Annapolis, Maryland, 27 Nov 2007The
Annapolis conference set a goal of reaching a final peace agreement
between Israel and the Palestinians by the end of next year. But
Israeli Prime Minister Ehud Olmert is lowering expectations.

Mr. Olmert told the Cabinet that that while Israel will make every
effort to hold speedy negotiations, there is no commitment to a firm
timetable.

He said there could be no peace agreement until the Palestinians carry
out their commitments under the internationally-backed "Road Map"
peace plan and crack down on terrorist groups.

But Cabinet Minister Rafi Eitan doubts Palestinian President Mahmoud
Abbas will do that.

Eitan says he expects Palestinian terror to continue for decades.

Palestinian negotiator Saeb Erekat says his side is ready to keep its
commitments under the Road Map. And with regard to reaching a peace
agreement by the end of next year, he said, "where there is a will,
there is a way."

"And I hope that our leaders will take the decisions required to
achieve the historic treaty, that is needed for Palestinians and
Israelis in order to establish the two-state solution," said Erekat.

In a goodwill gesture to President Abbas, Israel plans to release 429
Palestinian security prisoners on Monday.


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