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Last update - 02:35 25/04/2008 Abbas asks Bush to keep closer eye on settlement expansion By Shmuel Rosner, Haaretz Correspondent, and New Agencies Tags: PA, Mahmoud Abbas, U.S.  WASHINGTON -Palestinian President Mahmoud Abbas on Thursday asked President George W. Bush to tighten oversight over Israeli settlement expansion in the West Bank. Abbas told his host in Washington that the continued construction in the settlements would make it difficult for him to convince the Palestinian people that his peace talks with Israel may reach a breakthrough. The Palestinian leader, who has been in Washington for several days, also told Bush about the good atmosphere in his talks with Prime Minister Ehud Olmert. But he said progress was slow and that there were still many issues on which there was no agreement. Advertisement Meanwhile, U.S. President George W. Bush said he remains confident that both sides in the Mideast peace process can agree on the definition of a Palestinian state by the end of his term next January. Bush said he assured Abbas that a Palestinian state is a high priority for himself and his administration. The session at the White House Thursday came as Palestinians and Israelis have made only plodding progress toward a peace deal. During an official visit to Tunisia on Sunday, Abbas said he does not want the outcome of Israeli-Palestinian talks, shrouded in secrecy, to end with a vague declaration of principles. "I will focus in my talks with President Bush and American officials on the negotiations and on ending talks with an agreement this year," Abbas told reporters. The Palestinian president said he wants a framework deal that would outline the way sensitive final status issues can be resolved to establish a Palestinian state. Palestinian officials have said that peace talks on issues including the fate of Jerusalem, Jewish settlements, Palestinian refugees and borders, have shown no real signs of progress since their launch late last year. Bush, who is set to visit Israel in May to celebrate Israel's 60th anniversary, said at the summit in Annapolis, Maryland last November that he wanted the sides to reach a deal before he leaves office early in 2009. Abbas is also scheduled to have two meetings with U.S. Secretary of State Condoleezza Rice to review progress in the talks. "I'm not saying we will end up with an agreement but we will try to meet the target date of having a deal by the end of this year," he said. Abbas warned against missing "the window of opportunity" for making peace this year and said that "if this year ends without an agreement, we will face very difficult times." Senior aides traveling with Abbas said he was hoping to hear Bush's suggestions on ways to save the peace process as they were concerned that the year-end target would lapse. "President Abbas is not going to Washington to complain but to review the talks five months after Annapolis and to see how things can be moved forward," senior Palestinian negotiator Saeb Erekat said. The Palestinians also said that Washington has so far refrained from pressuring Israel to advance the process. "We will tell the Americans we don't expect them to pressure Israel, but we want them to be fair," Abbas said. Israeli negotiators headed by Foreign Minister Tzipi Livni and Palestinian negotiators led by Ahmed Queria had been meeting regularly to discuss all the issues, he added. Prime Minister Ehud Olmert said earlier this month it would be possible to reach "understandings" with the Palestinians this year that would lead to a future Palestinian state, but added, "I don't see any chance that we can implement an agreement in the coming period". Israeli officials have said that even if a deal was reached, it would not be implemented as long as the Gaza Strip is run by militant Hamas Islamists who seized the territory from Abbas's Fatah faction almost a year ago. Danin to join Blair on visit to Israel During the weekend, Robert Danin, the State Department's Deputy Assistant Secretary of State for Near Eastern Affairs, will travel to Israel. He will join the staff of former British prime minister Tony Blair, the chief representative of the Quartet of Mideast mediators. Blair asked that Danin join his staff in a bid to bolster the team. In recent months, Blair's activities have come under attack in Washington and the Palestinian Authority, and Palestinian Prime Minister Salam Fayyad said during his most recent visit to Washington that the assistance being offered the PA was insufficient. Related articles: Abbas says will discuss peace agreement with Bush Tuesday Olmert, Bush and Abbas to hold three-way summit in Jerusalem Olmert vows to 'forge historic path' toward peace with Palestinians Israel, PA agree to strive for deal by end of 2008 Bookmark to del.icio.us   JDate wins the 'Oscars' The leading Jewish dating Web site is an official honoree of the Webby Awards. 'Worse than Nazi camp' A Libyan envoy to the UN says the situation in Gaza is worse than in concentration camps.   1.   What is the definition of a Palestinian state? 22:28  |  Natallie Durson 24/04/08   2.   Bush as Minister of Magic 23:52  |  Mark of Lewiston 24/04/08   3.   Bush confident he won`t fall for the booze again after presidency 23:54  |  Mark B. 24/04/08   4.   A Drunk and Dreamy Peace 00:48  |  L. Winer 25/04/08   5.   ARAB STATE ON JEWISH LAND WILL BE DEFNIED...6` UNDER!!!! 01:13  |  Morris Gabel, MD 25/04/08   6.   Funny, Bush is doing nothing to help peace. 01:32  |  *BEN JABO 25/04/08   7.   Hamastan or not Israel demanded to commit suicidal borders orelse 01:51  |  anti anti-Semite 25/04/08   8.   Pal state "defined" or an Isr. - Pal. final peace agreement? 01:52  |  Fortuna Benmayor 25/04/08   9.   I`m confident lovers of Israel will stop birth of new terror stat 01:56  |  Chaim 25/04/08   10.   Bush has wobbly legs. 02:54  |  Maureen Ann 25/04/08   11.   Abbas doesn`t want peace deal.He wants pressure on Israel. 03:15  |  Sam 25/04/08   12.   Bush is not a servant of Abbas 05:06  |  Brod 25/04/08   13.   PALESTINIAN STATE, WEST BANK, GAZA, CAPITAL EAST JERUSALEM 06:04  |  JH 25/04/08   14.   Fortuna Benmayor - Bush Reasoning 06:11  |  Mark of Lewiston 25/04/08   15.   Defined borders re # 1 08:22  |  JW 25/04/08   16.   Abbas took pride in the fact that he was the first terrorist... 08:47  |  Jean Van Daem 25/04/08   17.   What serious researches reveals. 08:49  |  Jean Van Daem 25/04/08   18.   #10 maureen - and WHAT accomplishments do YOU have? 13:40  |  CK Tan 25/04/08

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