"Prime Minister Olmert and Secretary Rice share the belief that an agreement can be reached between Israel and the Palestinians by the end of 2008," local news service Ynet quoted a statement from the office as saying.
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U.S. Secretary of State Condoleezza Rice (L) meets Israel's Prime Minister Ehud Olmert in Jerusalem Aug. 26, 2008, in this picture released by the Israeli Government Press Office (GPO). Israeli Prime Minister Ehud Olmert and U.S. Secretary of State Condoleezza Rice still believe the Israelis and the Palestinians can reach a peace deal within 2008, Olmert's office said Tuesday. (Xinhua/Reuters Photo) |
The reiteration of their belief followed a breakfast meeting between the embattled prime minister and the top U.S. diplomat, who is visiting the area for the seventh time this year to prod the sluggish Mideast peace process.
Little tangible progress has been achieved since Israeli and Palestinian leaders officially resumed the long-stalled peace negotiations at a U.S.-hosted peace conference in Annapolis last November, when they also pledged to reach a comprehensive deal before U.S. President George W. Bush leaves office in January next year.
The peace efforts are challenged by the political turmoil in Israel, where Olmert faces fraud and bribery probes and has announced to resign after his Kadima party's primary elections in mid-September, and by the conflict between the pragmatic Fatah and the hardline Hamas at the Palestinian side.
Prior to her arrival, Rice told reporters on the plane that the Annapolis goal is still maintained, while stressing that "we have a lot of work ahead to do that, and obviously it's a complicated time, but it's always complicated out here," according to the Ynet report.��
