Region | Palestinian Territories
Olmert says peace deal closer than ever
Israeli Prime Minister Ehud Olmert said on Sunday that Israel and the Palestinians have never been closer to a peace deal than now.
- AP
- Published: 15:35 July 13, 2008
- From left: Palestinian President Mahmoud Abbas, French President Nicolas Sarkozy, and Israel's Prime Minister Ehud Olmert join together prior to a meeting at the Elysee Palace in Paris
- Image Credit: AP
Paris: Israeli Prime Minister Ehud Olmert said on Sunday that Israel and the Palestinians have never been closer to a peace deal than now.
Palestinian leader Mahmoud Abbas, standing with Olmert at the French presidential palace, said both sides are "serious and want to achieve peace."
Meanwhile, Olmert also said on Sunday that Israel hopes to have direct contacts with Syria soon. The rival neighbors have been holding indirect talks mediated by Turkey.
Olmert and Abbas held talks with French President Nicolas Sarkozy ahead of a sweeping summit launching the Union for the Mediterranean, bringing together leaders of some 40 nations in Europe, the Middle East and Africa.
"We have never been as close to a possible [peace] agreement as today," Olmert told reporters
Repeated rounds of Israeli-Palestinian peace talks since a peace conference in the United States last year have produced little movement.
But the atmosphere was friendly when Olmert and Abbas posed on the steps of the Elysee Palace with Sarkozy in the center, arms linked.
Olmert's domestic troubles, meanwhile, have clouded peace efforts. Law enforcement officials announced the widening of the corruption investigation against Olmert.
The ongoing investigations threaten his political survival and will make it more difficult at least in the short term to make major steps toward peace.
Palestinian negotiator Saeed Erekat on Sunday said that those troubles were not affecting current discussions.
He said Israeli and Palestinian officials would review the status of negotiations on the sidelines of the Paris summit, discussig Israel settlement activity, the Gaza border and Palestinian prisoner releases.
Syria's President Bashar Assad also said that talks with Israel could move toward direct contact but suggested that would not happen until there is a new US president in place.
Share this article
Related Articles
-
Bashar seeks French help in Israel talks
Bashar seeks French help in Israel talks
-
Lebanon and Syria vow reconciliation
Lebanon and Syria vow reconciliation before EU-Mediterranean summit
-
Ceasefire rattled by Gaza rocket
Ceasefire rattled as Gaza rocket lands in Israel
-
Al Assad: No direct Syria-Israel talks
No direct Syria-Israel peace talks, says Al Assad
-
Lebanon and Syria to exchange embassies
Lebanon and Syria to exchange embassies, says Sarkozy
-
Hamas leader arrives in Yemen
Hamas leader arrives in Yemen to discuss Palestinian talks
-
Lebanon wants to open embassy in Syria
Lebanon wants to open embassy in Syria
-
Man shoots 2 Israeli policemen
Police search for gunman who wounded Israeli policemen
-
Israeli police accuse Olmert of fraud
Israeli police accuse Olmert of fraud and move to widen corruption probe
-
Hamas chief calls for Palestinian dialogue
Hamas chief calls for Palestinian dialogue
More from Palestinian Territories
More from Region
Popular in News
News Editor's choice
-
Daughters: Book on Sadat 'one-sided'
Pictorial collection excludes children from first wife
-
Over 6,000 Haj pilgrims to get vaccines
H1N1 and meningitis jabs compulsory for those going to Makkah in Saudi Arabia
-
Abu Dhabi residential city on track
Abu Dhabi Municipality says Dh651m infrastructure project to be completed
