Blair and Olmert met with reporters after their meeting. Olmert said that negotiations with the Palestinian Authority were still his first choice as a means of reaching agreement on a final border. He focused his remarks on Israel’s willingness to “pull out from most” of Judea and Samaria to create a “contiguous” PA state and said “the status quo is the enemy of everything that we are in favor of.”
Olmert underscored Israel’s insistence on the PA's fulfillment of the basic preconditions set forth for future negotiations, including “the end of terror in the Middle East.” He told reporters he was willing to work hard to convince the PA "that it is preferable and worthwhile to meet … the Road Map."
Blair was much less forthcoming about his feelings on the matter. He called for a “negotiated two-state solution,” something he said the world agreed upon, but stopped short of endorsing Olmert’s unilateral withdrawal plan. “Our task in the international community is to try and give the best chance possible for a negotiated settlement to take place,” he said.
The two leaders also discussed Iran’s uranium enrichment program and its procrastination in holding direct talks with the United States and other nations about the issue.
Olmert warned that Israel would “not tolerate nuclear weapons in the hands of Iran,” and reiterated his oft-repeated opinion that Iran is a danger to the world. Speaking later to Jewish community leaders at the Savoy Hotel in central London, Olmert said that was prepared to "take extraordinary measures" to stop Iran's program.
Last week’s explosion on a Gaza beach that killed seven members of a PA family also came up for discussion. Israel has been widely accused of attacking the beach and killing the civilians. Olmert said he felt it unlikely that Israel was responsible, but refused to comment in detail until after Israel's investigation is completed.
Olmert underscored Israel’s insistence on the PA's fulfillment of the basic preconditions set forth for future negotiations, including “the end of terror in the Middle East.” He told reporters he was willing to work hard to convince the PA "that it is preferable and worthwhile to meet … the Road Map."
Blair was much less forthcoming about his feelings on the matter. He called for a “negotiated two-state solution,” something he said the world agreed upon, but stopped short of endorsing Olmert’s unilateral withdrawal plan. “Our task in the international community is to try and give the best chance possible for a negotiated settlement to take place,” he said.
The two leaders also discussed Iran’s uranium enrichment program and its procrastination in holding direct talks with the United States and other nations about the issue.
Olmert warned that Israel would “not tolerate nuclear weapons in the hands of Iran,” and reiterated his oft-repeated opinion that Iran is a danger to the world. Speaking later to Jewish community leaders at the Savoy Hotel in central London, Olmert said that was prepared to "take extraordinary measures" to stop Iran's program.
Last week’s explosion on a Gaza beach that killed seven members of a PA family also came up for discussion. Israel has been widely accused of attacking the beach and killing the civilians. Olmert said he felt it unlikely that Israel was responsible, but refused to comment in detail until after Israel's investigation is completed.