European Union (EU) policy advisor Javier Solana declared that Israel and the Palestinian Authority (PA) can close a deal on a peace treaty within nine months. He also supported putting the status of the Golan Heights on the agenda of discussions at the planned Annapolis, Maryland conference on the Middle East.

"What we have in mind now is to finish the agreement after Annapolis in, let's say, eight, nine months, Solana told Reuters News Agency while visiting Jericho.