No Peace for Israel

Israeli Prime Minister Ehud Olmert told the Knesset Foreign Affairs and Defense Committee on Monday that it is unlikely a peace deal will be achieved with the Palestinian Authority by the end of 2008. Olmert's admission comes as Israeli Foreign Minister Tzipi Livni was reported over the weekend to be resisting efforts by US Secretary of State Condoleezza Rice to have Israel and the PA draft a joint summary of their positions on core issues in time to present to the United Nations General Assembly when it opens its fall session in September. "I don't believe we can reach an understanding this year that includes the Jerusalem issue," Olmert told the key Knesset committee in a regular briefing today. "There is no practical chance of reaching an overall understanding on Jerusalem." He added, however, that an agreement is more feasible on such issues as borders and the disposition of Palestinian refugees.