Vice Premier Haim Ramon said Friday that Israel should move quickly to secure an accord on the principles of final status agreement with the Palestinians.

"I believe right now we have a partner," said Ramon. "I don't know for how long, so we must move quickly."

Ramon, one of Prime Minister Ehud Olmert's closest political allies, told Israel Radio that he supported a withdrawal from most of the West Bank, except for large settlement blocs. He suggested NATO forces could replace Israeli troops in the areas evacuated.

	Advertisement

"In my eyes, the occupation of the territories threatens our very existence, our legitimacy and our international standing," Ramon said in the radio interview.

Ramon would not specify the scope of the proposed pullout, but said he believes Israel should begin negotiations with Palestinian Authority Chairman Mahmoud Abbas on the principles of a final status agreement.

Recent weeks have seen a flurry of diplomatic activity between Israel and Abbas, who has been ruling the West Bank since the Islamic group Hamas seized power in Gaza in mid-June.

Olmert confirmed Wednesday that he intends to engage in negotiations with Abbas on the formation of a Palestinian state.

Olmert was responding to a Haaretz report, according to which he offered to hold negotiations toward an "Agreement of Principles" for the establishment of a Palestinian state comprised of the Gaza Strip and most of the West Bank.

Abbas, however, told Meretz Chairman Yossi Beilin during their meeting in Ramallah on Thursday that an agreement of principles would not be satisfactory. He said the Palestinian Authority is prepared to achieve a final status settlement with Israel by next fall, when an international Mideast peace conference is scheduled to take place.