Olmert, Abbas ready for dialogue
RAMALLAH, West Bank – Prodded by Britain’s visiting leader, the Israeli prime minister and Palestinian president said Sunday they are ready to resume contacts without conditions – a small step that many people hope could lead to resuming peace talks.
British Prime Minister Tony Blair also tried to draw Hamas into peace efforts, but the militant Islamic group that controls the Palestinian government rejected his condition that it first renounce violence and recognize Israel.
Despite Hamas’ tough stance, the readiness of Israeli Prime Minister Ehud Olmert and Palestinian President Mahmoud Abbas to meet was the first sign of movement in peacemaking in months.
“For the past months, the situation has gone backwards and not forwards,” Blair said at a news conference. But now, he added, “there is window of opportunity, even if it does seem very bleak.”
Standing alongside the British leader, Abbas said he was prepared to sit down with Olmert.
“We are ready immediately for serious negotiations to end the conflict,” Abbas said. “I am ready to meet Prime Minister Ehud Olmert without conditions.”
Israel’s government said Olmert would work to bring about the meeting soon.
The breakthrough was an upbeat note after weeks of intensified conflict between Israel and the Palestinians as well as the Jewish state’s 34-day war with Hezbollah in Lebanon.
It also provided a welcome boost for Blair, whose woes at home – including harsh criticism of his Mideast policies and alliance with Washington – forced him to announce plans last week to step down as prime minister within a year.
Olmert, who was elected last spring, and Abbas were on the verge of holding their first working meeting in June when Palestinian militants tunneled into Israel from the Gaza Strip and captured an Israeli soldier. That derailed the meeting and sparked a broad Israeli offensive in Gaza.
After Israel’s war with Hezbollah ended Aug. 14, hopes for dialogue with the Palestinians seemed even dimmer.
But in talks with Blair on Saturday, Olmert dropped his demand for the soldier’s release and declared he was ready to sit down with the Palestinian leader without conditions.
Israel is likely to push for the release of the soldier, Cpl. Gilad Shalit, who was taken by militants linked to Hamas. The Palestinians will likely seek help in easing tough economic conditions in the Gaza Strip and urge Olmert to free some of the thousands of prisoners held by Israel.