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Prime Minister Ehud Olmert. (Tess Scheflan / Jini) del.icio.us Digg It!  new Last update - 21:32 03/12/2007 PM: High Arab turnout at Annapolis summit was a 'big achievement' By Aluf Benn and Mazal Mualem, Haaretz Correspondents and Haaretz Service Tags: Tzipi Livni, Kadima  Prime Minister Ehud Olmert told a Kadima faction meeting Monday that he considered last week's Annapolis peace summit to be a success, citing the high turnout from Arab states. "I know that from the beginning, people tried to minimize and discount Annapolis, but the presence of 40 states at the foreign minister level, along with all the leading Arab states, at an event with the declared goal of making peace with Israel - that is a big achievement," he said. In his first meeting with Kadima MKs since the summit, Olmert said that he hopes "negotiations, under the management of Foreign Minister Tzipi Livni, will progress, with the serious intention of reaching an agreement that will permit the implementation of Kadima's basic solution - two states for two peoples." Advertisement For her part, Livni expressed hope that the global community will demand the Arab world "get off the fence" and get more involved in Israeli-Palestinian relations. Olmert highlighted the speech U.S. President George W. Bush delivered at Annapolis, in which he presented Annapolis as a starting point for peace between the Arab states and Israel. "I don't remember many similar positions, in which Israel stands side by side with Arab states. This presence creates a possibility, and without a doubt opens a door to a positive horizon," the prime minister said. Cabinet approves Annapolis document The cabinet approved Sunday the joint statement presented by Israel and the Palestinian Authority at the Annapolis summt, which commits the sides to seek a comprehensive peace agreement by the end of 2008. Industry, Trade and Employment Minister Eli Yishai (Shas) and Strategic Affairs Minister Avigdor Lieberman (Yisrael Beiteinu), who led the opposition to the summit in the weeks before it took place, criticized the declaration. Yishai and other Shas ministers voted against approving it, while Lieberman left before the vote was taken. Yishai said the summit was unnecessary and that it was a pity it had taken place. After the cabinet meeting Lieberman met with Olmert, who updated him on developments related to the summit. Lieberman once again presented his party's "red lines" vis-a-vis political negotiations. Olmert, Defense Minister Ehud Barak and Livni, who were at Annapolis, discused the event during the meeting. Livni enumerated three successes at the summit: The political process is still tied to the road map, Israel has not been restricted in terms of the core issues, and international involvement in the negotiations has been avoided. Related articles: Olmert: No firm timetable for peace talks with Palestinians Report: Abbas reiterates refusal to recognize Israel as 'Jewish state' Labor MK Yatom calls for talks with Syria without preconditions Blair: There won't be Palestinian state unless it is coherently run Bookmark to del.icio.us Construction conflict Palestinians condemn Israel's plan to build new homes in disputed East Jerusalem. Nuclear freeze A new U.S. intelligence report maintains that Iran froze its nuclear program in 2003.   1.   How much can come out of the Annapolis process if 16:09  |  Ra`anan 03/12/07   2.   The term "Arab World" needs to be left in the history books!!! 16:22  |  Get over it 03/12/07   3.   Kadima lauds Dog and Pony show 16:33  |  bernard ross 03/12/07   4.   Annapolis- Bush`s Success 16:59  |  Shtarka 03/12/07   5.   Arab involvement 17:13  |  peter 03/12/07   6.   If this was a success, we`re in trouble... 17:16  |  sptz 03/12/07   7.   Iran is running scared 17:28  |  Yonatan 03/12/07   8.   # 7, And rightly so. I hope Iran`s leadership will come to its 18:03  |  . 03/12/07   9.   There`s no peace without international involvement 18:04  |  Michael 03/12/07   10.   #4 Shtarka - I hope to God you`re right 18:12  |  Yonatan 03/12/07   11.   annapolis a success 18:12  |  geroge 03/12/07   12.   Threading the needle 18:34  |  Morris Valentine 03/12/07   13.   high turn out- low efforts-easy out for the arabs... 18:35  |  dav zee 03/12/07   14.   Annapolis, hot air or real substance? 18:38  |  Dan Chazan 03/12/07   15.   Is international involvment necessary? 18:45  |  Dan Chazan 03/12/07   16.   PM correct. Palestinian peace is fundamental to regional peace 18:45  |  Ivar 03/12/07   17.   the declared goal of making peace with Israel 18:50  |  dav zee 03/12/07   18.   Spin at full throttle 18:54  |  Michael N 03/12/07   19.   Success or Failure? 19:21  |  Stephen 03/12/07   20.   #18 Michael N 20:40  |  Yonatan 03/12/07   21.   #9 Michael 20:51  |  Boycott 03/12/07   22.   #19 Stephen 20:55  |  Boycott 03/12/07   23.   Dan 14, 15 there`s got to be international involvement. 20:58  |  Michael 03/12/07   24.   iran vs israel and america 22:13  |  otiwa ogede 03/12/07   25.   next - Olmert turns Muslim to improve Israel`s Standing... 22:41  |  mike 03/12/07   26.   #9michael tries to mix oil and water 23:24  |  victor hardman 03/12/07   27.   Can pressure help? 23:38  |  Dan Chazan 03/12/07   28.   To Boycott (#22) 23:44  |  Morris Valentine 03/12/07   29.   More Israeli Bullcrap about `peace` 00:06  |  goldberg 04/12/07   30.   Olmert- you are a sorry case 00:12  |  fred 04/12/07   31.   I needed a laugh 01:57  |  Mark Lincoln 04/12/07   32.   olmert and Yaalon 02:01  |  avi 04/12/07   33.   To Goldberg (#25) 02:03  |  Morris Valentine 04/12/07   34.   what a delusional idiot 03:23  |  chaim schonbrun 04/12/07   35.   to #26 this is your dream but it will never happen 20:09  |  David 05/12/07

Today Online Bush to make first official visit to Israel in January to push talks Responses: 122 Zvi Bar'el: Time has come for U.S. to pursue talks with Iran Responses: 81 Rosner: Israel certain Iran is playing tricks on U.S. intelligence Responses: 67 Uzi Benziman: Settlers must back voluntary evacuation bill Responses: 49 Amira Hass: Land grab pushing garbage dumps into PA towns Responses: 59 Rosner's Domain A ticket to heaven from Huckabee (WTR) Poll: Do you trust the new intelligence on Iran? Military option is off the table Israel Factor: the panel wants a 'Clinton' but votes Giuliani More Headlines 20:12 IDF special unit kills PA police officer in bungled W. Bank action 19:25 Livni calls for tougher sanctions on Iran's uranium enrichment 20:11 Arab states reject proposed UN eco-center for including Israel 18:48 Training methods exposed as Shin Bet opens top secret archive 17:03 Theodor Herzl's only grandson reinterred in J'lem cemetery 19:55 Qassam hits Sderot residence; IDF kills 2 Hamas gunmen 19:08 Woman, daughter indicted for paying renovator to kill daughter's husband 15:06 Leftists announce mock power cuts to protest Gaza fuel slash 15:40 IDF Chief faults top brass, not troops, for war misconduct 16:51 Court extends remand of journalist over alleged sex crimes with underage girls Previous Editions Select Day 04 dec 03 dec 02 dec 30 nov 29 nov 28 nov 27 nov 26 nov 25 nov 23 nov 22 nov 21 nov

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