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Prime Minister Ehud Olmert. (Reuters)
Last update - 20:56 31/07/2008
Abbas: I'll work toward peace with any elected Israeli prime minister
By Mazal Mualem, Haaretz Correspondent and Haaretz Service
Tags: U.S., Israel, Ehud Olmert, PA

Palestinian President Mahmoud Abbas told reporters on Thursday that he would continue to work toward peace with any elected Israeli prime minister.

Speaking in Tunisia, Abbas added that he would continue to hold talks with Prime Minister Ehud Olmert until he is replaced.

Abbas' comments came one day after Olmert announced that he would not contend in the upcoming Kadima primary, scheduled for September 17, and that he would consequently resign to allow his successor to form a new government. Until then, Olmert will remain in his post, enabling him to push ahead with the peace negotiations, possibly for months.
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Earlier Thursday, an official close to Olmert said that the premier would try to reach an agreement in peace talks with Abbas before a new government takes office.

The official, speaking on condition of anonymity, said the prime minister intended to "reach an agreement with the Palestinians during the time he has left."

"Any agreement he reaches with the Palestinians won't be a personal agreement and he will make sure that the [new] Kadima leadership is briefed and on board," the official added.

Meanwhile, a Palestinian official said on Wednesday that Israeli and Palestinian negotiators plan to continue talks toward a peace deal despite Olmert's announcement on Wednesday.

"We decided today that we are going to continue pursuing to reach an agreement before the end of the year," the negotiator, Saeb Erekat, told reporters after Israeli and Palestinian officials met U.S. Secretary of State Condoleezza Rice.

Abbas sees Olmert's decision to resign as an "internal Israeli matter" and will work with his successor, a spokesman said.

"This is an internal Israeli matter. The Palestinian Authority deals with the prime minister of Israel, regardless if he is Olmert or somebody else," said Abbas spokesman Nabil Abu Rdainah. "The concern of the Palestinian authority is to have an Israeli prime minister who is committed to peacemaking."

Palestinian lawmaker Hanan Ashrawi on Thursday said: "I have never looked at Olmert as a great gift for peace or the great savior and therefore I don't feel that his political demise is the end of the peace process."

"This issue is much larger than one person. Individuals make a difference
but at the same time there are parties involved, national policies involved," said Ashrawi, who is also a former spokeswoman for Palestinian negotiators.

Hamas official Sami Abu Zuhri called Olmert's announcement "a victory" for the Islamist group, which controls the Gaza Strip.

A White House spokesman said President George W. Bush talked with the Olmert Wednesday just before the prime minister announced his decision to resign in September.

Spokesman Gordon Johndroe said Bush intends to work closely with Olmert until that time, and wishes him well. "We will continue to work on a deal before the end of the year," Johndroe said when asked how Olmert's departure would affect the fragile peace process.

Johndroe added that Bush has appreciated Olmert's friendship, leadership and efforts toward peace.



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      1.   Great news! The very reason Kadima established was because Likud 21:27  |  Smadar 30/07/08
      2.   Not Mofaz as Prime Minister please...... 22:21  |  Dolly 30/07/08
      3.   Smadar, its not unbelievable, just open your eyes. 22:21  |  JP 30/07/08
      4.   Smadar, its not unbelievable, just open your eyes. 22:24  |  JP 30/07/08
      5.   #1 pocohontas finds bison in wig wam 22:45  |  victor hardman 30/07/08
      6.   `Land For Concessions` Must Not Survive The Next Election 23:52  |  Joseph.E 30/07/08
      7.   Policies of Dhimmitude Must Not Survive The Next Election 23:56  |  Joseph.E 30/07/08
      8.   Livni not Mofaz 00:47  |  guy 31/07/08
      9.   It`s all very sad, really... 01:55  |  sandra chitayat 31/07/08
      10.   peace talk are over 05:19  |  vik 31/07/08
      11.   Note the headline, folks.... 06:37  |  Johnboy 31/07/08
      12.   In less than a year, Bibi will be PM and Abbas will be history 06:58  |  Voice of Reason 31/07/08
      13.   The sincerity of our ?peace partner.? 07:15  |  Jean Van Daem 31/07/08
      14.   I`m Closing My Eyes 13:05  |  Yosemite 31/07/08
      15.   If allowed he`s going to take revenge on Israel by agreeing 13:36  |  Absolute Sweden 31/07/08
      16.   #1 - who would you like to see as PM ? 13:49  |  redmike 31/07/08
      17.   To Sandra Chitayat # 9 - Sad? but for those who went 13:51  |  Dagma 31/07/08
      18.   #14 - seems like you closed your eyes when you moved to CA. 13:51  |  redmike 31/07/08
      19.   HE HAS NO MANDATE FROM THE CITIZENS OF ISRAEL! 13:53  |  OLMERT=CRIMINAL 31/07/08
      20.   #15 - you have NO idea of the politcal system in Israel! 13:54  |  redmike 31/07/08
      21.   watch the pigs fyling past 13:57  |  Murray 31/07/08
      22.   You could see it in Olmert`s eyes ...... 14:00  |  Josephus 31/07/08
      23.   Dolly,Mofaz`s English is the least of his handicaps 14:01  |  Absolute Sweden 31/07/08
      24.   Olmert to seek Palestinian peace deal before leaving office ? 14:05  |  Natallie Durson 31/07/08
      25.   #2 & 23 - but he does speak ‘Persian’ or ‘Farsi’ .. 14:22  |  redmike 31/07/08
      26.   Where art thou 14:32  |  Baz Mann 31/07/08
      27.   To Baz Mann # 26 - Have we not seen? 15:00  |  Dagma 31/07/08
      28.   Sounds like we`re about to get reamed 16:26  |  Arie 31/07/08
      29.   The Kadima/Labour Legacy 16:29  |  Arie 31/07/08
      30.   Only the Saudi Plan can save Israel, and redeem Olmert 16:40  |  Ivar 31/07/08
      31.   Official:Olmert seeks to destroy Israel abit more before leaving 16:43  |  smarter then ehud 31/07/08
      32.   MERT IS RUSHING TO GIVE ISAREL ANOTHER GAZA HELL BEFORE LEAVING!! 16:49  |  glenna 31/07/08
      33.   ARE WE ALL CRAZY? HE WILL GIVE EVERYTHING AWAY! 17:08  |  BILL HANDEL 31/07/08
      34.   this criminally insane traitorous gangster, must be stopped 17:14  |  chaim 31/07/08
      35.   Hamas`s Delusions Continue 17:27  |  Brad 31/07/08
      36.   #33 IS RIGHT & TORAH CODE WARNINGS 17:39  |  Barry S. Roffman 31/07/08
      37.   Alcoholics, drug addicts and Palestinians 17:43  |  MARK KLEIN, M.D. 31/07/08
      38.   olmert still working on his retirement package? 17:47  |  yahn goodey 31/07/08
      39.   Corrupt polices from corrupt politicians 18:04  |  Ilan 31/07/08
      40.   olmert should resign sooner so someone can cut a good edal 18:09  |  r 31/07/08
      41.   OLMERT & BEST USE OF TORAH CODES 18:10  |  B. Roffman 31/07/08
      42.   Put some peace document on the table 18:16  |  Sam 31/07/08
      43.   Olmert should best BEWARE in his anxiety to give away Jewish land 18:20  |  charlie 31/07/08
      44.   Ehud "CHAMBERLAIN" Olmert 18:21  |  * BEN JABO 31/07/08
      45.   void all agreements 18:49  |  vik 31/07/08
      46.   Question for Olmert... 18:51  |  DR` 31/07/08
      47.   Juridical bells ring-in 12:00 hrs ? Attorney General you have to 19:01  |  H.H.M. 31/07/08
      48.   Stop bashing olmert 19:17  |  Arie 31/07/08
      49.   Olmert ... paint your House ! 20:48  |  Michael 31/07/08
      50.   To Bill Handel (#33) 21:02  |  Morris Valentine 31/07/08
      51.   Bibi and the demise of the Jewish state.... 21:19  |  Palestinian Brit 31/07/08
      52.   My Advice to good old Abbas 21:45  |  Danite 31/07/08
      53.   BIBI SHOULD BE THE NEXT PM 22:13  |  Rachel in USA 31/07/08
      54.   Good Old Abbas.... 23:11  |  Palestinian Brit 31/07/08
      55.   Rachel in the US 23:13  |  Palestinian Brit 31/07/08
      56.   #51 Palestinian Brit...funny stuff! 23:18  |  DR 31/07/08
      57.   #53 Rachel, no oil from OPEC? 23:20  |  ballistic 31/07/08
      58.   Peace loving Israel...of course she is not responsible... 23:54  |  Palestinian Brit 31/07/08
      59.   Ballistic - America has plenty of oil 03:28  |  Aunt Jemimah 01/08/08
      60.   #58 Palestinian Brit 03:32  |  * BEN JABO 01/08/08
      61.   #52 Danite Give it another year?.... 03:44  |  Smadar 01/08/08