By SPA,
Al-Quds city (Jerusalem) : Israeli Prime Minister Ehud Olmert says he doesn’t believe a peace accord can be reached with the Palestinians in 2008, the Associated Press reported.
Speaking to the parliament’s Foreign Affairs and Defense Committee, Olmert says the status of Jerusalem is unlikely to be resolved that quickly.
I don’t believe that understandings that will include Jerusalem can be reached this year, he said Monday, according to a participant in the meeting. There is no practical chance of reaching an overall understanding on Jerusalem.
At a U.S.-hosted peace conference last year, Israel and the Palestinians pledged to make all efforts to secure a peace deal by the end of President Bush’s tenure in 2008.
Olmert added that on other core issues, like refugees and borders, the sides were closer to each other.