Posted on 11/06/2008 10:01:19 AM PST by SmithL
The Bush administration conceded Thursday that an Israeli-Palestinian peace deal by a year-end deadline is no longer possible.
"We do not think it is likely it will happen before the end of the year," White House spokeswoman Dana Perino said in Washington, while Secretary of State Condoleezza Rice acknowledged as much at the outset of a Mideast trip meant to secure the modest gains from a year of U.S.-sponsored talks between Israel and one part of the fractured Palestinian leadership.
Perino said U.S. advisers began to doubt the deadline months ago, as a corruption scandal and related political uncertainties occupied Israel's attention.
Israeli Prime Minister Ehud Olmert is being forced from office by the scandal, and the country is set to hold new elections in February. Rice noted the situation "is a constraint on the ability of any government to conclude" a deal.
"I've learned never to predict in this business," she said, "but it is clear we're in a different situation now because Israel is going to elections."
En route to the Middle East for her eighth trip to Israel and the Palestinian territories since the parties set the deadline for reaching an agreement at last November's summit at Annapolis, Md., Rice said political uncertainty in Israel is the main obstacle.
Rice also said upon arriving here that it is important to maintain momentum and support for the negotiations so that new governments in both Israel and the United States have "a firm foundation" to continue the talks next year.
"It is our expectation that the Annapolis process has laid groundwork which should make possible the establishment of a Palestinian state when the political circumstances permit," Rice added. "I think that whatever happens by the end of the year, you've got a firm foundation for quickly moving ...
(Excerpt) Read more at sfgate.com ...
No peace in the Middle East?
Now, there’s a surprise.
thank god!
There, I corrected it for you Condi.
Condi has been a disaster
She should stay out of Israel.
But of course! It won’t occur until 12:01pm January 20, 2009...
Obama will treat the Israelis like Clinton treated the Serbs.
Next year for sure.
When do we let Israel worry about their own problems and find their own solutions? I’m sure they are quite capable both militarily and diplomatically to iron it all out. Please keep the Neocons away from that region and away from the Republican Party.
Send Obama over there. He’ll get this all straightened out!
Me: “Mideast peace by world’s-end no longer possible”
The Palestinians will NEVER, EVER, EVER peacefully co-exist with Israel.
If Israel gives them the all of the West Bank and Gaza and half or all of Jersusalem, they might agree to a “truce” or “ceasfire”, but they will never give up their desire to control ALL of Israel and exterminate every Jew living there.
They will use the “peace” to regroup and strenghthen themselves, and at the firt opportunity they will engage in further attacks on Israel. They will never cease from their obsession with destroying Israel.
If U.S. policy makers would grasp this obvious reality, we could save an awful lot of time, trouble and money. Negotiating with the Palestinians is utterly useless. They will not keep any promises they agree to.
Good, now go take that 49ers GM job while it’s still open.
It's not really her fault - State infects everyone who goes in there. The whole building needs to be fumigated for traitors.
“Peace deal”??? How many damn peace deals have been made with the Pali’s??? 10, 12??
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Never was.
Victory brings peace.
Despite the advent of "Hopeandchange," do you think it can be accomplished by the end of trhe century?
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