An agreement with the Palestinian Authority (PA) is very unlikely this year, Prime Minister Ehud Olmert told the Knesset Foreign Affairs and Defense Committee Monday. His statement came within hours of reports that American Secretary of State Condoleezza Rice is trying to come up with a document to be signed by the PA and Israel that will show progress in negotiations. The report effectively puts an end to hopes by the Bush administration for a comprehensive agreement before the American government changes hands in January.
The proposed progress report will omit the drawing of final borders of a new Arab state within Israel's current borders. Secretary Rice is hosting talks between three Cabinet ministers, headed by Foreign Minister Tzipi Livni, and PA negotiator Ahmed Qureia in Washington this week.