Palestinian President Mahmoud Abbas said yesterday he hopes to
reach a final peace agreement with Israel in a year or less.
Abbas made the remarks after being quoted by an Israeli daily as
saying US President George Bush told him he is determined to reach
a peace deal within a year.
Asked about this comment yesterday, Abbas told reporters at his
headquarters: "We hope to have a comprehensive peace with the
Israelis within a year or even less than that." He did not refer to
any US assurances.
The Palestinian president also appeared to welcome reports that
Olmert wants to formulate a joint statement on the contours of a
Palestinian state in Gaza and most of the West Bank. Olmert's aides
have confirmed the reports, but also hinted that such a
"declaration of principles" would sidestep the most problematic
issues, such as final borders and the fate of Palestinian
refugees.
"What we noticed yesterday in statements and from what was
published in (the Israeli daily) Haaretz is encouraging,"
Abbas said yesterday. "But we are waiting to hear it directly from
the Israeli government."
Abbas did not specify which statement and which report he was
referring to. Haaretz' report on Wednesday deal with the
declaration of principles.
The Israeli daily Maariv yesterday quoted Abbas as
saying that the US administration is eager to broker a final peace
deal before the end of Bush's term in 2008.
"I heard this with my own ears from the (US) president himself
and from Secretary of State Rice. They want to reach an agreement
between Israel and the Palestinians in the next year," Abbas was
quoted as saying.
Asked by reporters yesterday about his plan to hold early
elections, he said he has not set a date, but is determined to go
ahead. "There is a desire and a decision to go for early
presidential and legislative elections," he said after meeting with
Yossi Beilin, the head of Israel's dovish Meretz Party.
(China Daily via agencies July 27, 2007)
