Subscribe to Print Edition | Fri., August 10, 2007 Av 26, 5767 | | Israel Time: 21:32 (EST+7)
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Palestinian Prime Minister Salam Fayad shaking hands with U.S. Secretary of State Condoleezza Rice in Ramallah on Thursday. (AP)
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FM urges Arab states to attend summit, boost peace moves
By Aluf Benn, Barak Ravid and Yoav Stern, Haaretz Correspondent and Agencies

Foreign Minister Tzipi Livni on Thursday urged Arab countries that have no relations with Israel to attend a U.S.-sponsored international conference on the Middle East in the fall, saying that it would boost peacemaking efforts.

Livni told Israeli television that the Arab states should attend, "because the Arab world can support Israel when Israel is making the right steps regarding the Palestinians."

The foreign minister met Wednesday with her American counterpart, Condoleezza Rice, who ended a brief trip to Israel and the Palestinian Authority with a meeting Thursday in Ramallah with PA Chairman Mahmoud Abbas.

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Abbas told Secretary of State Rice that he was ready to work with Israel on a "declaration of principles" as a step toward a full peace agreement, an idea floated last week by Prime Minister Ehud Olmert.

Such a declaration, as envisioned by Israel, would outline the contours of a future Palestinian state, without immediately tackling the most explosive issues, such as final borders and the fate of Palestinian refugees.

Abbas suggested Thursday he is ready to consider the idea.

Israeli-Palestinian talks would focus on implementing "what was mentioned in the road map," he said, referring to the international peace plan that envisions a Palestinian state alongside Israel.

"Then we could end in a declaration of principles," Abbas said during a joint news conference with Rice. "The important thing here is that we reach results, and that we know the ceiling [final stage], but the stages of implementation can be agreed upon."

Earlier Thursday, Rice said Olmert was also ready to discuss fundamental issues leading to the creation of a Palestinian state.

During her meeting with Abbas, Rice signed an agreement granting the Palestinians $80 million for reform of their security services.

Rice said the international peace conference being promoted by the Bush administration for this fall is not "to get people together for a photo op but rather so that we can really advance Palestinian statehood."

Immediately before a separate meeting with Abbas, Rice met with the entire Palestinian cabinet in a gesture of support for the team of moderates that replaced the Hamas government after the Islamic militants seized Gaza by force.

Hamas considers the West Bank-based government, led by Prime Minister Salam Fayad, to be illegitimate, and has established its own rule in Gaza.

Rice also met separately with Fayad before being introduced to his team of ministers. Rice addressed the cabinet in the room where it holds its regular meetings.

Hamas, whose government was dismissed by Abbas after the Gaza takeover, accused Rice of trying to deepen the divisions among Palestinians.

"Rice did not come to the region to establish a Palestinian state, as she and her master, Bush, have claimed. Instead, she came to support one Palestinian party against another, and to support the Zionist occupation," said Hamas spokesman Sami Abu Zuhri.

Palestinian officials said the key item on the Rice-Abbas agenda is the peace conference set. The officials said they want the conference, announced last month by U.S. President George W. Bush, to yield real results, not just agreement on holding more meetings.

"We don't want another meeting void of implementing mechanisms," Palestinian negotiator and senior Abbas aide Saeb Erekat said of the fall conference. "What we need to see is timelines and mechanisms for implementation."

In previous meetings, Abbas and Olmert agreed in principle to the idea, but the Israel Defense Forces is concerned a troop pullback will increase risks of renewed terrorist attacks on Israel.

On Wednesday, Olmert told Rice that the Palestinians are currently unable to implement a final-status deal, and therefore, it is necessary to proceed cautiously. "The Americans and the Palestinians also understand this," the source said.

Olmert also urged Rice to include Saudi Arabia, Tunisia, Morocco, Bahrain and other Persian Gulf states in the international peace conference, adding that it was important for the delegates to be of ministerial rank at least.
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  1.   Shut up Olmert! Just begin all out Finial Peace Talks NOW!!!!!!!! 02:28  |  Ali 02/08/07
  2.   Is the following accetable to Peace : 02:31  |  Ali 02/08/07
  3.   Do not trust Abbas PA to make a fair deal 02:47  |  El-birawi 02/08/07
  4.   Simple logic... 02:54  |  Joseph 02/08/07
  5.   Can`t Sign Anything In Advance 02:59  |  Dyinglikeflies 02/08/07
  6.   #2 - Ali 03:36  |  Maurice 02/08/07
  7.   Ali 03:52  |  Peter 02/08/07
  8.   I am glad that the saudis have clearly stated that they want 03:54  |  lakshmi 02/08/07
  9.   #4 = Joseph 03:55  |  Maurice 02/08/07
  10.   To Ali- Yeah, Sure, But Devil In The Details... 04:33  |  Dyinglikeflies 02/08/07
  11.   #6 Maurice 06:00  |  Ali 02/08/07
  12.   #6 Maurice my suggestion on the "Right of Return" is............. 06:12  |  Ali 02/08/07
  13.   #2 If by limited refugees, you mean none, then, yes 06:19  |  McQueen 02/08/07
  14.   keep out hamas....? 07:05  |  ravi 02/08/07
  15.   Debka Is Reporting Al-Aqsa Brigades Didn`t Cooperate 07:24  |  Yosemite 02/08/07
  16.   #10 Dyinglikeflies 07:31  |  keith 02/08/07
  17.   What will Hamas negotiate?! 08:24  |  Esther 02/08/07
  18.   Israels Goal: Seek peace without finding peace 08:31  |  Natallie Durson 02/08/07
  19.   Hamas 08:33  |  Neil 02/08/07
  20.   THESE ARE OFFERS HE MUST REFUSE 09:39  |  paul harris 02/08/07
  21.   Ali-#11,12-Thank God we`re starting to talk peace 09:45  |  Daniel Leopold 02/08/07
  22.   A little EC is good for the soul 09:46  |  Mary Titus 02/08/07
  23.   And the Palestinians will come good on any future agreement? 09:49  |  Daniel 02/08/07
  24.   Ali-#11,12-Thank God we`re starting to talk peace 09:53  |  Daniel Leopold 02/08/07
  25.   The Israeli gameplan 10:03  |  Clickfool 02/08/07
  26.   No deal, the PA must be abolished and wiped off the world map and 10:11  |  Uzi 02/08/07
  27.   Re: Hamas represents the majority of Palestinians 10:16  |  Mimi 02/08/07
  28.   Right of return 10:19  |  Margie in Tel Aviv 02/08/07
  29.   Margie from Tel Aviv 10:36  |  cool 02/08/07
  30.   Olmert proposition to Rice is made under Meretz Beilin manipulati 10:38  |  Joseph E . 02/08/07
  31.   He cringed for Arafat,Palme, and now for Rice,ugly Peres 10:42  |  Absolute Sweden 02/08/07
  32.   Margie in Tel Aviv 11:02  |  Mike in Tel Aviv 02/08/07
  33.   Israel`s mumbo-jumbo 11:05  |  Andrew Watson 02/08/07
  34.   Mike (in Tel Aviv? I wonder) 11:11  |  Margie in Tel Aviv 02/08/07
  35.   Olmert getting scared that peace might finally be on its way 11:24  |  Michael 02/08/07
  36.   "28"Margie in Tel Aviv 11:39  |  Labhras 02/08/07
  37.   It would be an insult to arabs should Israel surrenders territori 11:49  |  Joseph E . 02/08/07
  38.   Labhras 11:58  |  Margie in Tel Aviv 02/08/07
  39.   #34 Margie from Tel Aviv 12:14  |  Johnboy 02/08/07
  40.   Perfidious Michael from UK "forgets" the "peace" with the IRA 12:21  |  Absolute Sweden 02/08/07
  41.   Discussion of issues of mutual interest 12:21  |  Margie in Tel Aviv 02/08/07
  42.   #25 LETS HOPE CLIKKY IS RIGHT 13:09  |  paul harris 02/08/07
  43.   Stupidity on Olmerts Part 13:19  |  Ronnie Wolman 02/08/07
  44.   40 Absolute Sweden gets its absolutely wrong as usual 13:49  |  Michael 02/08/07
  45.   El Birawi - It Is What It Is 13:57  |  Jane 02/08/07
  46.   17Esther&27 Mimi,esther if you have been following the news Hamas 14:00  |  lakshmi 02/08/07
  47.   The WINDOW of OPPORTUNITY is wide open..... 14:16  |  Hamza 02/08/07
  48.   to Margie in Tel Aviv 14:18  |  Mike 02/08/07
  49.   Any one can tell me the difference between Abbas & Arafat ? 14:20  |  Akram Zekaria 02/08/07
  50.   A bad case of dejavu.... 14:23  |  Simon Jenkins 02/08/07
  51.   Pals Divide and Conquor!!!! 14:24  |  lilly 02/08/07
  52.   NO MENTION OF PA`S RESPONSIBILITIES 14:26  |  Ian 02/08/07
  53.   Mike 14:39  |  Margie in Tel Aviv 02/08/07
  54.   #48 Mike go to Israel 14:41  |  peter 02/08/07
  55.   NO to Fayad and his resistance crap 14:46  |  Brod 02/08/07
  56.   #28 Margie in Spring Hill 14:49  |  whodey 02/08/07
  57.   #50 A point of order, Simon Jenkins 14:51  |  Johnboy 02/08/07
  58.   Margie 14:51  |  Mike 02/08/07
  59.   To Keith, #16- "Rubbish" 14:53  |  Dyinglikeflies 02/08/07
  60.   Talks AFTER Abbas disbands Al Aksa Brigade 14:58  |  Mike M 02/08/07
  61.   Laksmi, still lacking in `shmi" 15:00  |  FOX 02/08/07
  62.   25 Click...sounds like a GREAT gameplan 15:00  |  The Equalizer 02/08/07
  63.   Mike 15:04  |  Margie in Tel Aviv 02/08/07
  64.   Mike M 60, if Pals aren`t a threat Israel won`t talk to them 15:14  |  Michael 02/08/07
  65.   If Abbas and the PA cannot hold on to Gaza..... 15:16  |  Yosef 02/08/07
  66.   61Fox,the actual news is that wedding party with islamic jihad 15:22  |  lakshmi 02/08/07
  67.   Believe us then I will believe you 15:23  |  Tamir Palestine 02/08/07
  68.   Comparisons comparisons & mr. Johnboy.... 15:47  |  Simon Jenkins 02/08/07
  69.   Tamir on Belief Systems 15:48  |  Joel Weltman 02/08/07
  70.   when it begins to work 15:53  |  Paul Freedman 02/08/07
  71.   Tamir Palestine: Reality and Dreams 15:54  |  Ronnie Wolman 02/08/07
  72.   Need for CONFLICT RESOLUTION SKILLS 15:58  |  Double Click 02/08/07
  73.   SELL OUT PURE AND SIMPLE 16:16  |  ralphsrant1 02/08/07
  74.   Need for PEACE REFERENDUMS 16:17  |  Double Click 02/08/07
  75.   What Peace?? 16:17  |  Lebanese 02/08/07
  76.   Haaretz what`s your policy? 16:18  |  Margie in Tel Aviv 02/08/07
  77.   MARGIE IN TEL AVIV 16:18  |  JON FEIGENBAUM 02/08/07
  78.   #25: the whole Middle East now Uncle Toms 16:21  |  Paul Freedman 02/08/07
  79.   # 49 Akram Zekaria. I CAN TELL YOU.. 16:26  |  KATH` 02/08/07