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U.S. Secretary of State Condoleezza Rice meeting with PA Chairman Mahmoud Abbas in Ramallah on Monday. (AP)
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Abbas: Aiming for peace deal before Bush leaves office
By Aluf Benn, Barak Ravid and Yuval Azoulay, Haaretz Correspondents and Reuters
Tags: Palestinian prisoners 

Palestinian Authority Chairman Mahmoud Abbas said on Monday that Israel, the Palestinians and the United States have agreed to aim for a regional peace settlement before President George W. Bush steps down in January 2009.

During a joint press conference with U.S. Secretary of State Condoleezza Rice in Ramallah, Abbas said there is a real possibility for achieving a peace deal with Israel by then, but also called on Israel to start meeting some of its short-term peace obligations, such as a settlement freeze.

"I agree with Prime Minister Ehud Olmert that there is a real possibility to achieve peace, and I say we are serious to use this opportunity to reach this historical peace," Abbas said.
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Abbas said he has received encouraging signs from Israel and the U.S., but expects tough going in the negotiations.

He called on Israel to begin immediately meeting its obligations under the first stage of the road map peace plan. The plan requires Israel to freeze settlement construction, remove illegal settlement outposts and ease Palestinian movement.

Abbas said the Palestinians are ready to do their part, including trying to disarm Palestinian militants.

During the news conference, Rice said she hoped a U.S.-led Middle East conference in Annapolis later this year would be the launching pad for "negotiations that I sincerely hope ... could achieve their goals within the time remaining to the Bush administration."

Rice met in Ramallah on Monday with Abbas and Palestinian Prime Minister Salam Fayyad. She was also to meet with lead Palestinian negotiator for the upcoming peace conference, Ahmed Qureia.

Palestinian negotiator Saeb Erekat said earlier Monday the Palestinians have made progress in carrying out their obligations, while Israel has done little. Settlement construction continues and the vast majority of the outposts have not been dismantled.

"It seems that the Israelis have not read their obligations, Erekat said.
"The Palestinians will ask Rice to give each side a list of its obligations, with a timetable for implementation."

"The U.S. should be the judge, and every week say something about who is implementing, he said."

In a speech Sunday night, Rice warned that if the conference fails to produce progress toward setting up a Palestinian state, Muslim extremists would increase their influence.

"If we do not act now to show the Palestinians a way forward, others will show them a way forward," she said.

Rice told a gathering of scholars, leaders and former negotiators that both sides must take advantage of the current opportunity for peace talks. "Palestinians have waited too long for the dignity that will come with an independent state," she said. "We have all waited too long for peace.

Lieberman: PM plan to free more prisoners could rock coalition
The prime minister's plan to release more Palestinian prisoners as a gesture of good will to the Palestinian Authority prior to the Annapolis summit threatens the stability of the government coalition, Minister of Strategic Affairs Avigdor Lieberman Israel Radio on Monday,

Prime Minister Ehud Olmert is currently examining a request by the PA for freeing as many as 2,000 prisoners, according to sources in his bureau, but no decision has yet been made on the final number or the timing of the release.

On Sunday, during meetings with Rice, Israeli officials said that any deal that will lead to the establishment of a Palestinian state would first have to assure Israel's security.

The secretary of state had a working lunch with Olmert, and a source in the Prime Minister's Bureau said that Rice had agreed to most of Israel's conditions regarding the Annapolis summit. The official said they spoke about the upcoming summit and "adhering to the principles of the road map as a basis for progress between Israel and the Palestinians."

Olmert has insisted that the joint declaration at Annapolis will not refer to the "core issues," nor to a fixed timetable for a solution to them. However, later Sunday, the prime minister did say that negotiations with the Palestinians after the summit will focus on the core issues.

"All the fundamental questions, the substantive issues, all the historical questions burdening our debate - are on the agenda," Olmert said during an address at the Saban Forum, an annual gathering of Israeli and U.S. political leaders.

The reference to the core issues, among the main bones of contention between the two sides, concerns the questions of refugees, Jerusalem and borders.

Discussing the possibility of an additional release of Palestinians held in Israeli prisons, a political source in Jerusalem said Sunday that "because at Annapolis there will be no solutions presented to the core issues, the Palestinians want to show that they are making gains in routine matters - both in the implementation of the road map and in the release of prisoners."

"From our point of view, the release of prisoners is the easiest price to pay, but there are still no numbers," the same source clarified.

In recent months Israel has twice freed Palestinian prisoners, as a gesture of good will meant to bolster the position of PA Chairman Mahmoud Abbas. A total of 250 prisoners were released on the eve of the summit at Sharm el-Sheikh in June, and 90 more in September, for the holy month of Ramadan.

The last release of prisoners was opposed by Shas and Yisrael Beitenu coalition partners, as well as by Minister of Transport Shaul Mofaz of the prime minister's party, Kadima.

Unlike other moves that directly affect the quality of life of Palestinian civilians, a decision to free prisoners is less dependent on agreement by the defense minister and defense establishment, in general. In deciding on such a release, Olmert can rely on the support of his Labor coalition partners and the majority of his Kadima colleagues.

Barak: Gaza sanctions won't lead to humanitarian crisis
Meanwhile, Defense Minister Ehud Barak told Rice during their meeting in Jerusalem on Sunday that the sanctions Israel has imposed on the Gaza Strip will not lead to a humanitarian crisis.

He also promised to allow Palestinian policemen to deploy to other cities in the West Bank, if the deployment of 300 PA policemen in Nablus, which was carried out on Friday, proves to have a positive effect.

Rice also met Foreign Minister Tzipi Livni on Sunday, who told reporters afterward that the Palestinians "need to understand that the implementation of future understandings will be implemented only according to the phases of the road map - meaning security for Israel first and then the establishment of a Palestinian state."

Abbas, who was planning to meet with Rice on Monday, said in a speech in Ramallah that Palestinians had abided by 90 percent of the road map requirements and now "Israel must do its part."

Livni, who heads Israel's negotiating team preparing for a Middle East peace summit scheduled to take place in Annapolis, Maryland later this year, said that Israel was prepared to move forward in discussions with the Palestinians, although the situation was "complicated ... more than ever."

Rice told Livni she hoped her visit here would help to "advance the work you are doing bilaterally with the Palestinians as well as continuing to plan for the Annapolis meetings."

Also Sunday, Quartet envoy and former British prime minister Tony Blair said he hoped to announce a series of projects soon that will help bolster the Palestinian economy. He told a conference in Jerusalem that formal negotiations over creating a Palestinian state should not be "impossibly difficult." But he acknowledged that the path was "utterly fraught" and that both sides had to take steps to build confidence.

Related articles:
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  • Fayad wants Israel to free 2,000 prisoners ahead of peace summit
  • Prisoners or criminals?
  • PA Chairman: We will continue to seek the release of all prisoners
  • Rajoub: Releasing prisoners will help free Gilad Shalit
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    PA to U.S.: We demand a complete settlement freeze.
      1.   How stupid 03:23  |  Nechama 05/11/07
      2.   Insane 03:26  |  Ron 05/11/07
      3.   This guy really wanted 2,000 Headaches 03:32  |  cristo 05/11/07
      4.   Balloon launch? 03:47  |  jjvanka 05/11/07
      5.   More terrorist to kill our people 03:47  |  ralphsrant1 05/11/07
      6.   The last time 03:50  |  Mark Lincoln 05/11/07
      7.   DO NOT FREE CRIMINALS : OLMERT SHOULD RESIGN 03:53  |  B.Heddem 05/11/07
      8.   are you kidding me? 04:17  |  vik 05/11/07
      9.   What the heck am I reading... 04:17  |  Avrum 05/11/07
      10.   free more 04:37  |  Shmuelshachor 05/11/07
      11.   Insanity 05:02  |  Rabbi Yakov Lazaros 05/11/07
      12.   The irony of it all 05:14  |  Morris Valentine 05/11/07
      13.   Release these prisoners! Geneva convention! 05:17  |  MAN 05/11/07
      14.   More terrorists to be on the loose. 05:18  |  David 05/11/07
      15.   Olmerts behaviour ......... 05:37  |  Miriam Ashkelon 05/11/07
      16.   Release Prisoners 05:46  |  Marc 05/11/07
      17.   Release Prisoners 05:50  |  Marc 05/11/07
      18.   free more pal prisoners? 06:01  |  geoff 05/11/07
      19.   Re. #4 06:36  |  David 05/11/07
      20.   Rule One: Prisoners are released at END of conflict! 06:44  |  Raymond from DC 05/11/07
      21.   a year ago, I supported Olmert. Today? Go to hell. 06:47  |  mea 05/11/07
      22.   AFTER RELEASING PRISONERS,SUMMIT FAILS,TERRORI ATTACKS RENEW))))) 07:00  |  VOICE of MOSHIACH))) 05/11/07
      23.   Meaningless stunt 07:24  |  Natallie Durson 05/11/07
      24.   #Rabbi Yakov Lazaros in the USA. 07:28  |  Maureen Ann 05/11/07
      25.   #6 Lincoln 07:39  |  * BEN JABO 05/11/07
      26.   G-D WILL PUNISH ALL WHO TOUCH 07:40  |  WARRIOR 05/11/07
      27.   #11 MAN 07:41  |  * BEN JABO 05/11/07
      28.   Released prisoners monitored 07:52  |  haaretz reader 05/11/07
      29.   don`t get all worked up 08:32  |  r.m. 05/11/07
      30.   Olmert will never learn - Lebanon again! 08:36  |  Dagma 05/11/07
      31.   FIRST RELEASE OUR 3 ISRAELI SOLDIERS- 08:36  |  lily 05/11/07
      32.   Olmert is deteriorating 08:44  |  Dorothea 05/11/07
      33.   What is now Clear is Bush and Rice`s `Handshake` 09:02  |  Dolly 05/11/07
      34.   2000 MURDERERS 09:31  |  Ben 05/11/07
      35.   Before all else, the Palestinian leadership must, must 09:37  |  Avihu 05/11/07
      36.   Good Morning Mr President Abbas. 09:49  |  Roger Bannister 05/11/07
      37.   Israel is being left behind in the ME 10:01  |  Mahmoud 05/11/07
      38.   Please Mr. Olmert, forget about good will gestures..... 10:17  |  Swiss (Dino) 05/11/07
      39.   Judging on past performance most go staight back to "work" 10:28  |  PETER SM 05/11/07
      40.   The Arabs must make very painful concessions for real peace: 10:36  |  Uzi 05/11/07
      41.   There can never be separate Arab polity west of the Jordan: 10:37  |  Uzi 05/11/07
      42.   What about Shalit, Goldwasser, Regev? 10:56  |  Elianah 05/11/07
      43.   Equitable and practicable peace plan that may work: 11:04  |  Uzi 05/11/07
      44.   How About Freeing 5 million? 11:14  |  Paulo 05/11/07
      45.   Olmert made the right decision 11:37  |  Tamir Palestine 05/11/07
      46.   THE LORD HAS SPOKEN............... 12:09  |  WARRIOR 05/11/07
      47.   APPEASEMENT OF ISLAMIC TERRORIST MURDERERS ? 12:10  |  Bill 05/11/07
      48.   The big sale of Israel has begun 12:15  |  Jonathan S 05/11/07
      49.   swiss dino the fascists of switzerland 12:17  |  toblerone 05/11/07
      50.   #39 12:32  |  seeking truth 05/11/07
      51.   #27 Ben Jabo 12:38  |  white dove 05/11/07
      52.   On dogs and caravans... 13:00  |  Esther 05/11/07
      53.   more of the blind leading the blind 13:13  |  victor hardman 05/11/07
      54.   Announcing... A New Domestic Policy 13:22  |  Klaudia 05/11/07
      55.   Nothing is Going to Happen in Annapolis 13:24  |  Nephtaly 05/11/07
      56.   freeing prisoners 13:31  |  Hilda 05/11/07
      57.   In order to achieve any peace deal the Palestinians 13:42  |  Avihu 05/11/07
      58.   #53 - you are right of course ! 13:43  |  redmike 05/11/07
      59.   Paulo - Why should anyone listen to what you say if 13:44  |  Ravit 05/11/07
      60.   Paulo # 44 13:48  |  ChanahS 05/11/07
      61.   #57 14:04  |  simple solution 05/11/07
      62.   # 49 toblerone and the "fascists"..... 14:14  |  Swiss (Dino) 05/11/07
      63.   Its all a smoke screen 14:17  |  The Arab Hammer 05/11/07
      64.   PEACE WOULD BE LEFT IN "PIECES" 14:21  |  indrajaya 05/11/07
      65.   # 52 Esther On dogs and caravans...And I Hope it Sinks In The.. 14:23  |  Fed-Up 05/11/07
      66.   # 15 Miriam Ashkelon..Olmerts behaviour ..He Reminds me Of.... 14:29  |  Fed-Up 05/11/07
      67.   prisoners 14:44  |  JJ 05/11/07
      68.   Avihu #35 14:53  |  Veritas 05/11/07
      69.   Expected core issue discussion 14:55  |  Tosefta 05/11/07
      70.   swiss dino i make no concessions to fascists 14:58  |  toblerone 05/11/07
      71.   The terrorists are wishing Olmert well 15:03  |  Jonathan S 05/11/07
      72.   swiss dino your offer of a "parachute" is an insult 15:03  |  toblerone 05/11/07
      73.   swiss dino "will you be a real man" 15:05  |  toblerone 05/11/07
      74.   Better release the prisoners AFTER the summit 15:08  |  Tosefta 05/11/07
      75.   uzi and Arabs 15:15  |  Truth 05/11/07
      76.   #44 agree with you!!! 15:16  |