Bush launches drive for Mideast peace

Israeli and Palestinian negotiators neared an agreement on a peace agenda this evening as President George W. Bush launched a new drive to restart long-dormant talks to create a Palestinian state.

 

Expectations were low for three days of meetings in Washington and nearby Annapolis, Maryland, partly because Bush, Israeli Prime Minister Ehud Olmert and Palestinian President Mahmoud Abbas all face political challenges at home.

Bush, beginning his biggest attempt at Middle East peace with only 14 months left in office, held Oval Office talks with Olmert and a separate session with Abbas later.

Bush told Olmert he was looking forward to a serious dialogue with the two leaders "to see whether or not peace is possible." He said he was optimistic about the outcome. He is to meet the two leaders together tomorrow in Annapolis.

Olmert said he hoped to launch "a serious process of negotiations". "This time it is different," he said, hailing what he described as "very important" international participation in the conference.

Despite long-standing frictions, Israeli and Palestinia officials said they were close to agreement on a joint document that would outline the peace goals to follow this week's sessions.

Israeli officials said negotiators had narrowed some of their differences over the document, which will chart the course for negotiating the toughest issues of the conflict -- Jerusalem, borders, security and Palestinian refugees.

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