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Last update - 17:03 10/06/2008 Olmert: Next U.S. administration may not be as accommodating By Barak Ravid, Haaretz Correspondent and Reuters Tags: Palestinian, Israel  Prime Minister Ehud Olmert on Tuesday said he was uncertain of whether the next United States administration would be as sympathetic toward Israel as that of President George W. Bush, and as such, efforts should be made to take full advantage of the current U.S. leadership. This coming Monday, U.S. Secretary of State Condoleezza Rice plans to hold a three-way meeting with Foreign Minister Tzipi Livni and senior Palestinian negotiator Ahmed Qureia. Palestinian negotiator Saeb Erekat announced the planned meeting after the U.S. proposed holding trilateral talks with Israel and the Palestinians in order to accelerate negotiations on the core issues and bridge the major gaps that still exist. Advertisement Analysts said the corruption scandal dogging Olmert has dramatically reduced the chances of a peace deal before Bush leaves office in January and could force Rice to consider scaling back her ambitions. Olmert is currently under investigation over suspicions that he illegally received funds from an American millionaire. So far there are few signs that she is prepared to do so as she leaves Washington on Wednesday on a trip that will take her to Paris for an Afghan donors' conference on Thursday and then to Jerusalem and Ramallah for her sixth visit this year. Rice is also expected to have a three-way meeting with Palestinian Prime Minister Salam Fayyad and Defense Minister Ehud Barak, who is a key player in determining how far Israel goes to ease Israeli-imposed restrictions placed on the Palestinian residents of the West Bank. Dspite Olmert's difficulties, the administration has said it will continue to press for a peace agreement this year - the goal Bush announced at a high-profile peace conference he hosted in November in Annapolis, Maryland. "The question is not about his desire but about his ability," said a senior U.S. official of Olmert's predicament. "I'd rather be criticized for an element of romanticism than for an element of neglect." However, Western, Palestinian and Israel officials have all acknowledged privately that Olmert's corruption investigation could trigger new elections, dimming - if not snuffing out - the chances of a deal this year. Some analysts said Bush should now concentrate simply on handing over an active peace process to his successor, rather than on striving to produce some kind of a deal that may be impossible to reach given Israel's political uncertainty. They suggested Washington also work to improve conditions in the West Bank by strengthening Palestinian security forces and governing institutions and by pressing Israel to remove roadblocks Palestinians say cripple their economy. Related articles: Congress supports 25 percent increase in military aid to Israel Olmert to Bush: Israel intent on achieving peace deal this year Bush, in Israel: Iran poses threat to world peace Bookmark to del.icio.us   Kosher Idol A new Haredi reality show called 'The Upcoming Voice' makes 'American Idol' kosher. Chief Rabbi's savior New look at Nazi-era papers names mysterious rescuer of future Chief Rabbi.   1.   Obamaphobia 17:17  |  Aphemia 10/06/08   2.   And What it Means 17:31  |  Sumanto 10/06/08   3.   Carter and Clinton were the best for Israel 17:32  |  Jeff 10/06/08   4.   Obama represents the first non-imperialist president 17:46  |  American Voter 10/06/08   5.   Banana republic? 18:04  |  Michael 10/06/08   6.   One of the Signs of End Times 18:19  |  Dror 10/06/08   7.   Olmert - Not Just a Crook and a Jerk, But a Dumb Crook and Jerk 18:20  |  Tod Zuckerman 10/06/08   8.   What is Olmert smoking? 18:27  |  MARK KLEIN, M.D. 10/06/08   9.   Ominous signs of collapse 18:29  |  Dror 10/06/08   10.   Next US admin will be accomodating for peace not empty threats 18:33  |  Aounist 10/06/08   11.   America needs to make serious changes 18:37  |  Dror 10/06/08   12.   Better get your Radiological suits ready! 18:37  |  Peter 10/06/08   13.   Neither Obama nor McCain 18:48  |  Dror 10/06/08   14.   Dror - Very true 18:50  |  American 10/06/08   15.   it means that you guys must agree and go forward and not making 19:02  |  Simon Mohammed 10/06/08   16.   Dror 19:05  |  Eva 10/06/08   17.   Accommodating????? 19:09  |  MB 10/06/08   18.   America has lost her bearings 19:11  |  Dror 10/06/08   19.   Obama will be no help....... 19:25  |  William 10/06/08   20.   To American Voter on Obama 19:25  |  Bruce Rubin 10/06/08   21.   American, I feel for you friend 19:29  |  Dror 10/06/08   22.   Please, please, pretty please, George - PLEASE bomb Iran 19:30  |  Clickfool 10/06/08   23.   MARK KLEIN, M.D. - What peace deal has Israel honored with the PA 19:33  |  Carmen 10/06/08   24.   Bruce Rubin - Incorrect 19:38  |  American Voter 10/06/08   25.   For all the salivating wolves wishing for Israel`s demise 19:39  |  Dror 10/06/08   26.   William in Portland 19:42  |  Dror 10/06/08   27.   #11 Dror, It`s the Israelis who need to make serious changes 19:44  |  Dutch 10/06/08   28.   William in Portland , pathetic yoke 19:54  |  Dror 10/06/08   29.   Since when is Olmert concerned about Israel? 20:08  |  CPE 10/06/08   30.   Playing chess with Russians in Brooklyn 20:12  |  Dror 10/06/08   31.   Obama will bring a change for the Am-Africans 20:53  |  AliciaYasmeen 10/06/08   32.   Wow it seems this guy exists to be accommodated by others only 21:08  |  Dennie 10/06/08   33.   America the beautiful 21:31  |  Dror 10/06/08   34.   I say again peace in the middle east 21:33  |  Dror 10/06/08   35.   To Dror, who is kind of cranky today 21:39  |  Aphemia 10/06/08   36.   #20 You mean that you would like to make a permanet base 21:44  |  Concerned individual 10/06/08   37.   bush the "accommodating" disaster 21:48  |  scott 10/06/08   38.   RICE PUSHING ANTI-ISRAEL AGENDA OF STATE DEPT ARABISTS 22:08  |  G. Marcus 10/06/08   39.   American Voter 22:38  |  Mark B. 10/06/08   40.   TO Dror on consumption-hysteria 23:26  |  AliciaYasmeen 10/06/08   41.   Aphemia, you don`t seem to fathom the gravity 23:57  |  Dror 10/06/08   42.   Olmert is speaking nonsense 00:24  |  IW 11/06/08   43.   Israel is God`s 00:53  |  Ryan 11/06/08   44.   Hussein Obama 01:09  |  Gary Schroeder 11/06/08   45.   To be continued.... 01:19  |  Webster 11/06/08   46.   Don`t worry Olmert 01:23  |  Gili 11/06/08   47.   Oh Yes they will 01:23  |  Abe 11/06/08   48.   Dutch, did you read the article about Syria? 02:01  |  natan 11/06/08   49.   Olmert stop demoralising the entire country 04:26  |  Cipora Julianna Kohn 11/06/08   50.   Next President Will not be as accomodating t Israe 04:33  |  Ehud Olmert 11/06/08   51.   Olmert 16:24  |  Ted Blodgett 11/06/08   52.   so sad 00:48  |  Paul 12/06/08   53.   Nice! 02:26  |  janet 12/06/08   54.   #25 Dror - "THE GOOD OLE` DAYS" 04:26  |  PADDY 12/06/08   55.   #43 Keep Dreaming 05:26  |  Matt 12/06/08

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