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U.S. President George W. Bush and Prime Minister Ehud Olmert last week at Ben Gurion Airport. (Archives) Last update - 17:13 21/05/2008 Olmert: I hope Abbas does not quit before peace talks progress By Haaertz Service Tags: Mahmoud Abbas, Palestinians  Prime Minister Ehud Olmert said Wednesday in an interview with The Times that he hopes Palestinian President Mahmoud Abbas remains in his position as the two sides struggle to reach a peace settlement by the end of the year. Abbas earlier this week threatened to step down unless progress has been made within the six-month timeframe set during negotiations earlier this year. U.S. President George Bush has called for a settlement to be made before his term ends in 2009, and the sentiment has been echoed by all sides party to the negotiations. Advertisement Olmert told The Times in an interview published Wednesday, "I hope he [Abbas] will not step down and I hope that in six months we will be in a different place altogether." "I still think that the basic distance between what I and [Abbas] exchanged at the very initial stage was bridgeable," he added. Olmert also said he had little faith in a future moderate Palestinian government run by Fatah leader Marwan Barghouthi, who is currently serving five life sentences in an Israeli prison on terror charges. Palestinians have called on Israel to release Barghouthi, believing he is the most obvious successor to take over Abbas' Fatah movement. "Imagine that Barghouti is released tomorrow. Is there a way for him to prove that he's not a collaborator with the Israelis? There?s only one way: to be more extreme than the present leadership," he told The Times. Regarding the criminal investigation currently being carried out against him, Olmert told The Times that he would draw on the examples of former British Prime Minister Tony Blair and Italian Prime Minister Silvio Berlusconi, who faced similar corruption charges and continued to serve in their positions. "I look at the manner in which my friends Tony Blair and Silvio Berlusconi were in a similar situation. They were accused in similar ways, one of trading contributions for titles and one for trying to bribe a judge. They were cleared entirely and didn?t stop taking care of the State," he said, "You know when you get into this job that you?re not going to have fun," he said. "You're going to have tough months and difficult years." Olmert praised the efforts Blair has made since his appointment as the United Nations' Mideast envoy last year, saying: "He really invested himself in this effort to try and build up an infrastructure for the Palestinians... I don't know how rapidly the Palestinians will be prepared to meet this challenge. But I think that his general approach is positive." Related articles: Olmert to U.S.: Impose naval blockade on Iran Police to question Olmert in Talansky bribe case Friday Bookmark to del.icio.us   Fear of extinction The state of over 20 species of birds in Israel has worsened considerably. Taking advantage Jerusalem police probe possible gang rape of disabled woman.   1.   Me: I Hope Olmert Will Quit before... 11:06  |  Kenneth 21/05/08   2.   I wonder... 12:28  |  Channa 21/05/08   3.   We shall hope as well 12:40  |  Pinchas 21/05/08   4.   Olmert: I hope Abbas does not quit before peace talks progress 12:56  |  GSW 21/05/08   5.   Olmert`s hope... 13:43  |  Esther 21/05/08   6.   Pics better than 1000 words 14:11  |  Mary 21/05/08   7.   SOLUTION: GAZA AS A NEW DUBAI; PARTS OF W/B FEDERATED WITH JORDAN 14:15  |  G. Marcus 21/05/08   8.   #7 I`ll ask again, G. Marcus.... 15:09  |  Johnboy 21/05/08   9.   I hope Oldmerd & Abbass quit imediately! 15:47  |  Wise Saba 21/05/08   10.   #8 john boy from oz on squatting on others land 17:21  |  victor hardman 21/05/08

Read & React Al Gore: Israel should lead the way in renewable energy Responses: 112 Olmert to U.S.: Impose naval blockade on Iran Responses: 152 Israel, Syria to begin indirect peace talks Responses: 93 Akiva Eldar: If Israel wants peace, it must bolster Fatah Responses: 49 Opinion: The demise of the European left Responses: 49 Rosner's Domain 5 questions: Does Israel need rescue? Can Obama win over Jewish voters? (WTR) Rosner's Guests: Israel not likely to invade Gaza soon Hyping the threat from Iran (WTR) Poll: Meeting the president of Iran - good or bad? More Headlines 17:14 Israel and Syria officially confirm indirect talks 17:08 Shas: Syria still in axis of evil; Labor MK: Olmert using spin to deflect from probe 17:07 ANALYSIS / Small piece of land could scupper Israel-Syria talks 17:22 Microsoft CEO, in Herzliya: Our company almost as Israeli as American 15:45 Palestinian official: Israel, Hamas still at odds over truce terms 17:11 Prosecution petitions court to bar Talansky from leaving Israel 13:15 Iran detains seven Baha'i leaders, citing 'Zionist' ties 11:51 Warring Lebanese leaders seal deal to end 18-month crisis 15:48 In countdown to Champions League final, Avram Grant faces the test of his life 14:47 Gazans fear for their health as they turn to cooking oil to power cars 15:24 IDF soldier lightly hurt when mortar explodes on Negev base 11:50 Hungarian-born Australian denies Holocaust war crimes 17:13 Olmert: I hope Abbas does not quit before peace talks progress Previous Editions Select Day 20 may 19 may 18 may 16 may 15 may 14 may 13 may 12 may 11 may 09 may 08 may 07 may

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