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Abbas 'ready for Olmert meeting'Sun Sep 10 13:30:07 UTC 2006 |
Abbas 'ready for Olmert meeting'Sun Sep 10 16:00:17 UTC 2006 |
| Palestinian president Mahmoud Abbas has said he is ready for an "unconditional" meeting with his Israeli counterpart, after talks with the UK's Tony Blair. | Palestinian president Mahmoud Abbas has said he is ready for an "unconditional" meeting with his Israeli counterpart, after talks with the UK's Tony Blair. |
| Mr Abbas' announcement comes a day after Israeli Prime Minister Ehud Olmert also said he was prepared for talks without conditions. | Mr Abbas' announcement comes a day after Israeli Prime Minister Ehud Olmert also said he was prepared for talks without conditions. |
| Mr Blair stressed the importance of the Palestinians forming a government of national unity that recognised Israel. | Mr Blair stressed the importance of the Palestinians forming a government of national unity that recognised Israel. |
| There was a "window of opportunity" for both sides to engage in talks, he said. | There was a "window of opportunity" for both sides to engage in talks, he said. |
| We have a plan to get there - the roadmap UK Prime Minister Tony Blair | We have a plan to get there - the roadmap UK Prime Minister Tony Blair |
| The UK prime minister was speaking after meeting Mr Abbas in the West Bank town of Ramallah. | The UK prime minister was speaking after meeting Mr Abbas in the West Bank town of Ramallah. |
| Mr Blair acknowledged that relations between the Palestinians and the Israelis are particularly bad right now, says the BBC's Alan Johnston, in Ramallah. | Mr Blair acknowledged that relations between the Palestinians and the Israelis are particularly bad right now, says the BBC's Alan Johnston, in Ramallah. |
| More than 200 Palestinians have died in recent fighting, many of them civilians. | More than 200 Palestinians have died in recent fighting, many of them civilians. |
| 'Important priority' | 'Important priority' |
| Nonetheless, Mr Blair urged the two sides to work to revive the peace process, and he committed himself to supporting any such effort. | Nonetheless, Mr Blair urged the two sides to work to revive the peace process, and he committed himself to supporting any such effort. |
| Ramallah citizens give their views on Mr Blair's visit In pictures | |
| "So far as I am concerned, this issue, which I believe passionately in, will be as important as any other priority for me in the time that remains for me in office," he said. | "So far as I am concerned, this issue, which I believe passionately in, will be as important as any other priority for me in the time that remains for me in office," he said. |
| Mr Blair also urged Palestinians to form a government of national unity, which the international community could then deal with. | Mr Blair also urged Palestinians to form a government of national unity, which the international community could then deal with. |
| Western countries have been boycotting the Hamas-led government elected in January, because of Hamas' violent anti-Israeli stance. | Western countries have been boycotting the Hamas-led government elected in January, because of Hamas' violent anti-Israeli stance. |
| The more moderate Mr Abbas leads Fatah, Hamas' rivals. He believes a coalition government of national unity would ease international pressure. | The more moderate Mr Abbas leads Fatah, Hamas' rivals. He believes a coalition government of national unity would ease international pressure. |
| Correspondents say Mr Blair's remarks are the first suggestion that a broader Palestinian government, which still included Hamas, would be acceptable. | Correspondents say Mr Blair's remarks are the first suggestion that a broader Palestinian government, which still included Hamas, would be acceptable. |
| "I believe that such a government, based on the Quartet requirements, does offer the possibility of re-engagement by the international community," Mr Blair said. | "I believe that such a government, based on the Quartet requirements, does offer the possibility of re-engagement by the international community," Mr Blair said. |
| But in a statement issued shortly after the Blair-Abbas news conference, Hamas rejected calls to moderate its anti-Israeli position. | But in a statement issued shortly after the Blair-Abbas news conference, Hamas rejected calls to moderate its anti-Israeli position. |
| Spokesman Sami Abu Zuhri said the group was ready to ready to form a coalition government with the more moderate Fatah movement, but "not according to standards that are dictated". | Spokesman Sami Abu Zuhri said the group was ready to ready to form a coalition government with the more moderate Fatah movement, but "not according to standards that are dictated". |
| Mid-East tour | Mid-East tour |
| For his part, the Mr Abbas said he welcomed the prospect of talks with the Israeli prime minister, Ehud Olmert. | For his part, the Mr Abbas said he welcomed the prospect of talks with the Israeli prime minister, Ehud Olmert. |
| He said he wanted an "agreement of peace" which would lead to "two countries side by side". | He said he wanted an "agreement of peace" which would lead to "two countries side by side". |
| Following a meeting with Mr Blair on Saturday, Mr Olmert had said that he was prepared to meet the Palestinian side, something that the Palestinians have been pressing for many months. | Following a meeting with Mr Blair on Saturday, Mr Olmert had said that he was prepared to meet the Palestinian side, something that the Palestinians have been pressing for many months. |
| Mr Blair will not be meeting the leaders of the Hamas-controlled Palestinian government during his tour of the Mid-East. | Mr Blair will not be meeting the leaders of the Hamas-controlled Palestinian government during his tour of the Mid-East. |
| A Downing Street spokesman said: "The purpose of this visit was to hear the views from all sides so we came here today to hear the views of the Palestinian president. | A Downing Street spokesman said: "The purpose of this visit was to hear the views from all sides so we came here today to hear the views of the Palestinian president. |
| Mr Blair met with the families of captured Israeli soldiers | |
| "He will bring with him the views he heard from Prime Minister Olmert and look to hear Palestinian views and Palestinian concerns and try to see how we can get back to some sort of dialogue." | "He will bring with him the views he heard from Prime Minister Olmert and look to hear Palestinian views and Palestinian concerns and try to see how we can get back to some sort of dialogue." |
| Prior to his meeting with Mr Abbas, Mr Blair met with the families of Israeli soldiers seized by Islamic militants in Gaza and Lebanon. | Prior to his meeting with Mr Abbas, Mr Blair met with the families of Israeli soldiers seized by Islamic militants in Gaza and Lebanon. |
| A Downing Street spokesman said Mr Blair would raise the subject during his visit and hoped the men would be at home to celebrate the Jewish New Year later this month. | A Downing Street spokesman said Mr Blair would raise the subject during his visit and hoped the men would be at home to celebrate the Jewish New Year later this month. |