A plethora of diplomatic initiatives for a peace deal between Israel and the Palestinian Authority have emerged in recent weeks. In addition to the Arab League initiative, and President George Bush's reaffirmation of his vision in a speech three weeks ago, there are three Israeli initiatives: Prime Minister Ehud Olmert's Agreement of Principles, Vice Premier Haim Ramon's "agreed convergence," and President Shimon Peres' initiative, reported yesterday in Haaretz. The three plans have many points in common, and all are based on a substantial Israel withdrawal from the West Bank.

The Olmert plan: The prime minister would like to negotiate with PA Chairman Mahmoud Abbas on an Agreement of Principles for the establishment of a Palestinian state on most of the territory of the West Bank and the Gaza Strip. According to Olmert's plan, the talks would focus initially on general principles and avoid the details of the final-status agreement, where an accord will be more difficult to reach.