Posted on 05/18/2006 7:24:30 PM PDT by Esther Ruth
May. 19, 2006 1:59 | Updated May. 19, 2006 2:48 Official: Bush won't set a timetable for Israeli withdrawal By NATHAN GUTTMAN WASHINGTON
President George Bush will ask Prime Minister Ehud Olmert if his convergence plan was compatible with the idea of a two-state solution when the two leaders will meet next week. According to a senior administration official, Bush will expect Olmert to explain how a unilateral move could be compatible with the US administration's wish for a negotiated final status agreement.
The official told The Jerusalem Post on Thursday that President Bush will not express his opinion on the plan at this stage. "We need answers before the President can make a decision. There will be no decisions made at this meeting," the official emphasized.
The US administration believes that there is sufficient time to pursue both the idea of direct negotiations on a final status agreement and the unilateral withdrawal plan, since no settlement would be removed before the end of 2007 or the middle of 2008. According to the official, it would still be possible to go ahead with negotiations if there was a political change in the Palestinian Authority by the time Israel was ready to implement the convergence plan.
Although "There is no timetable and no fixed date," the official said, "Olmert has limited time in office" and wanted to implement his plan while George Bush was still in the White House. Even so, the US would not set a deadline for Olmert on implementing the convergence plan.
Though it does not support Palestinian Authority Chairman Mahmoud Abbas' request for entering final status discussions, the Bush administration expects Israel to speak to Abbas on issues of humanitarian assistance, border crossings and tax revenue.
(Excerpt) Read more at jpost.com ...
It's stupid to set such a time table. You don't set time tables for actions that require conditions.
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