Quote from article: ""If we and the Palestinians act with determination, there is a chance that we can achieve real accomplishments during the Bush presidency," the prime minister said. "There is no intention of dragging the negotiations on endlessly."
Olmert reiterated that the road map peace plan would be the basis for any
solution, but noted that both sides had commitments that had yet to be fulfilled.
"We should remember that the road map calls on Israel to take a series of actions. These also haven't been carried out. We won't ease up on the Palestinians to carry out their obligations, and we won't dodge ours. This is an opportunity, and it must be seized," he said.
Meanwhile, US Secretary of State Condoleezza Rice warned that if the current US-backed peace drive failed, the "moderate center" could collapse forever.
"Because of the threat of violent extremism, the two-state solution is frankly more urgent now than ever," she said. "If we do not act now to show the Palestinians a way forward, others will show them a way forward. If the Palestinians are losing hope, especially among the young, we have a great danger before
us."
Rice spoke of a real chance for peace offered by the Annapolis conference. She called for a serious and substantive gathering.
"We can succeed. Failure is simply not an option," she said.
Quartet envoy Tony Blair, meanwhile, said the contours of a peace agreement were more or less in place, and that what was needed now was a change in the mind-set of both Israelis and Palestinians.
_________________
Is America about to be judged? Is the Tribulation about to begin???