Subscribe to Print Edition | Wed., February 27, 2008 Adar1 21, 5768 | | Israel Time: 18:53 (EST+7)
Haaretz israel news English
web haaretz.com
  Back to Homepage
Rosner's Domain
Diplomacy
Defense Jewish World Opinion National
Print Edition
Advertising
Books Arts & Leisure Business Real Estate Easy Start Travel Week's End Anglo File
Prime Minister Ehud Olmert and his wife Aliza arriving in Tokyo on Monday. (AP)
Last update - 20:13 26/02/2008
Olmert: I'm unsure peace deal with PA possible in 2008
By Barak Ravid, Haaretz Correspondent and Reuters
Tags: Ehud Olmert, Japan 

TOKYO - Prime Minister Ehud Olmert said Tuesday that he is not certain Israel and the Palestinian Authority will be able to reach a peace agreement by the end of 2008, as they committed themselves to doing in the November U.S.-sponsored Annapolis conference.

"We have a desire to reach an agreement within the year 2008," Olmert told a business conference in Tokyo, where he is making his first visit as prime minister. "I am not sure we will make it, but we are determined to make a giant step forward to end this dispute once and for all."

The prime minister said he would make every effort to reach an agreement with Palestinians that would lead to a two-state solution to a decades-old conflict.
Advertisement
"In these days we are making exceptional efforts to conclude all differences with our neighbors and to resolve outstanding disputes with our Palestinian neighbors," he said.

Olmert and Palestinian President Mahmoud Abbas met last week and agreed to accelerate the peace talks.

The prime minister is due to meet U.S. Secretary of State Condoleezza Rice in Tokyo on Thursday to update her on the peace talks and growing tensions between Israel and the Gaza Strip's Hamas leaders.

"There will be no better opportunity, and we want to make every possible effort to seize this opportunity," said Olmert, who is to meet Japanese Prime Minister Yasuo Fukuda on Wednesday.

Related articles:
  • Palestinian PM says he sees no peace accord with Israel in 2008
  • Olmert to Haaretz: Two-state solution, or Israel is done for
  • Blair: Middle East peace agreement is possible by end of 2008
    • Bookmark to del.icio.us  
     
    Chicken or the egg?
    A UN human rights expert says Palestinian terror 'inevitable' result of occupation.
    A reason to kvell
    Jews are America's top-earning religious group, according to a new survey.
      1.   Peace Deal Is Possible!!! 10:34  |  MB 26/02/08
      2.   olmert finally discovers oil and water dont mix 10:38  |  v hardman 26/02/08
      3.   No deal ever 10:43  |  Anton 26/02/08
      4.   #1 MB lives in cloud cuckoo land but doesnt lay eggs 10:56  |  v hardman 26/02/08
      5.   The Land of Israel is ours by Historical and Moral right. 10:56  |  Jean Van Daem 26/02/08
      6.   Olmert: "I am sure there will be no peace deal." 11:11  |  Dutch Dirk 26/02/08
      7.   AT THE END OF THE DAYS 11:26  |  Indrajaya 26/02/08
      8.   NO PEACE?RETAKE GAZA,JAIL ALIZA OLMERT, COLLABORATOR WITH ENEMY)) 11:37  |  VOICE of MOSHIACH))) 26/02/08
      9.   Honesty in the balance 11:50  |  Zouzou 26/02/08
      10.   NO PEACE? RETAKE GAZA, JAIL ALIZA OLMERT, COLLABORATOR WITH ENEMY 11:57  |  VOICE))))))))) 26/02/08
      11.   OK do tell us 11:58  |  Sabra 26/02/08
      12.   I DID EVERYTHNG:EVACUATED,BULDOZERED GUSH QATIF & STILL NO PEACE? 11:58  |  ARK SHARON: I`M FINE 26/02/08
      13.   Please, use proper expression; NOT "peace" but slicing up Israel 12:05  |  AliciaYasmeen 26/02/08
      14.   No peace possible - the settlers have ensured 12:06  |  spyguy 26/02/08
      15.   Brains 13:13  |  Uzi 26/02/08
      16.   iddrajaya 13:35  |  danny 26/02/08
      17.   #4 victorpaul Harrisman 13:36  |  Labhras 26/02/08
      18.   It Was An Unrealistic Expectation In The First Place 13:39  |  Jeff Northridge 26/02/08
      19.   Ehud Washington Olmert. 13:52  |  Stephen. 26/02/08
      20.   5jean Van Daem you are living inside the pages of your own 13:57  |  lakshmi 26/02/08
      21.   Olmert lied on his people and the whole world! 13:58  |  John 26/02/08
      22.   We knew that long time ago 14:06  |  Mary 26/02/08
      23.   Absolute lies 14:11  |  kiwi girl 26/02/08
      24.   Anton in Bonn 14:20  |  The Judge 26/02/08
      25.   Olmert 14:22  |  Ralph 26/02/08
      26.   And The Prize Goes To..... 14:26  |  Yaakov Sullivan 26/02/08
      27.   Cant make peace where there is no peace 14:44  |  Natallie Durson 26/02/08
      28.   #6 Dutch Dirk. Israel will exist. I am not so sure about Holland 14:46  |  Moti 26/02/08
      29.   israel has trump card (s); may be used for 15:11  |  triska 26/02/08
      30.   Alicia yasmeen on the slices 15:13  |  Yaakov Sullivan 26/02/08
      31.   Olmert call this peace? 15:15  |  Dav 26/02/08
      32.   2009? 15:19  |  Boris 26/02/08
      33.   NO more empty promises. Lets see some action 15:31  |  L 26/02/08
      34.   What Israel Doesnt Realise Is This 15:31  |  Yaakov Sullivan 26/02/08
      35.   Olmert - Likud at heart 15:44  |  Benny 26/02/08
      36.   Knesset landgrabbers terrified of `peace` 16:19  |  Don camillo 26/02/08
      37.   Why does Israel refuse to allow Palestine to exist? 16:41  |  POP 26/02/08
      38.   POP: why does Palestine refuse to allow Israel to exist? 17:00  |  AliciaYasmeen 26/02/08
      39.   #20; lakshmi dream a little dream for me too! But the facts are 17:04  |  Doc Holliday 26/02/08
      40.   POOP # 37 palestin does exist,its called jordan! 17:06  |  terrornator 26/02/08
      41.   X-rays needed 17:08  |  Mark Lincoln 26/02/08
      42.   #34 Yaakov Sullivan; there is still a third option! 17:22  |  AliciaYasmeen 26/02/08
      43.   neither in 2009, 2015 and 2050. we already know! 17:35  |  lola 26/02/08
      44.   Muslims can`t stop murdering Jews 17:36  |  nunya 26/02/08
      45.   39. doc holliday. it`s true or i accept as true 17:47  |  triska 26/02/08
      46.   I told him -that its a sure thing--no peace ever 17:59  |  Sal 26/02/08
      47.   Natallie Durson # 27 Good Point 18:04  |  Jeff Northridge 26/02/08
      48.   The Pals aren`t going anywhere. Why should they? 18:06  |  newageblues 26/02/08
      49.   #27 - Good Point ... BUT 18:19  |  DoubleClick 26/02/08
      50.   Olmert: I am sure peace deal with the PA is impossible in 2008 18:47  |  Michael N 26/02/08
      51.   39 Doc Holliday,how come that 60 years later,israel is still on 18:53  |  lakshmi 26/02/08
      52.   Peace is an illusion 18:58  |  Steve 26/02/08
      53.   Olmert and Abbas are losers 19:08  |  Palestinian 26/02/08
      54.   51 lakshmi you`re good at making up numbers 19:22  |  Steve 26/02/08
      55.   Indrajaya......wishful thinking! 19:28  |  Rozz 26/02/08
      56.   Peace deal with PA not possible,Glad you saw the LIGHT 19:47  |  Gary Pineda 26/02/08
      57.   Why can`t he just be honest and say...... 19:57  |  Deborah 26/02/08
      58.   # 56 20:02  |  Gary Pineda 26/02/08
      59.   Olmert`s "exceptional" efforts 20:21  |  Tosefta 26/02/08
      60.   54 Steve,this has nothing to do with me,but with history, 20:32  |  lakshmi 26/02/08
      61.   The right wingers on both sides are awaiting 20:55  |  Palestinian Prince 26/02/08
      62.   61. Palestinian Prince 21:45  |  whizbang 26/02/08
      63.   PM, not sure of peace in 3000 21:52  |  El-Birawi 26/02/08
      64.   palestinian,thats funny,you of all people,calling someone a loser 21:59  |  terrornator 26/02/08
      65.   Uh Laksmi 22:46  |  Scharker Yid 26/02/08
      66.   65Scharker Yid,and you were there and so you know that every 23:39  |  lakshmi 26/02/08
      67.   65Scharker Yid...contd. have been found at El-Ubeidiya,2 miles 23:45  |  lakshmi 26/02/08
      68.   peace deal 00:09  |  mark 27/02/08
      69.   Iakshmi # 60 The Phlistines 00:09  |  Jeff Northridge 27/02/08
      70.   What he said and what he meant 00:40  |  Baz Mann 27/02/08
      71.   #65 Sharker 00:51  |  Space 27/02/08
      72.