This article is from the source 'bbc' and was first published or seen on . It will not be checked again for changes.
You can find the current article at its original source at http://news.bbc.co.uk/go/rss/-/1/hi/world/middle_east/6187282.stm
The article has changed 13 times. There is an RSS feed of changes available.
| Version 2 | Version 3 |
|---|---|
| Israel PM outlines peace vision | Israel PM outlines peace vision |
| (30 minutes later) | |
| Israeli Prime Minister Ehud Olmert says he hopes to revive long-stalled peace efforts with the Palestinians, as a ceasefire takes hold in the Gaza Strip. | |
| In a major policy speech, Mr Olmert pledged humanitarian and economic incentives if militants freed a captive Israeli soldier and violence ceased. | |
| Mr Olmert said the Palestinians now stood at an "historic crossroads". | |
| The speech comes against a backdrop of increased diplomatic activity including visits by top US officials this week. | |
| Earlier, Israeli troops shot and killed two Palestinians in a raid in the West Bank early on Monday, one a militant and the other a 55-year-old woman. | |
| We are ready to withdraw from considerable territory in exchange for peace with the Palestinians Ehud Olmert Press views on ceasefire Mr Olmert said Palestinians would see substantive improvements in their lives if they chose the path of peace. | |
| "We will agree to leave large territories and dismantle settlements that we established," he said. | "We will agree to leave large territories and dismantle settlements that we established," he said. |
| Mr Olmert spoke of releasing many long-term Palestinian detainees in Israeli jails, lifting restrictions on the occupied territories and ultimately creating a viable state. | Mr Olmert spoke of releasing many long-term Palestinian detainees in Israeli jails, lifting restrictions on the occupied territories and ultimately creating a viable state. |
| However, he also warned of the dire consequences if violence continued. | |
| He was speaking at an annual memorial at the grave of Israel's founding premier David Ben-Gurion. | |
| Threat | Threat |
| The BBC's Jon Leyne in Jerusalem said all Mr Olmert's pledges on Monday had been made before, but their importance lay in the context in which they are now being made. | The BBC's Jon Leyne in Jerusalem said all Mr Olmert's pledges on Monday had been made before, but their importance lay in the context in which they are now being made. |
| Palestinian militant groups have warned that the ceasefire which came into force on Sunday could collapse unless Israel halts military operations in the West Bank. | Palestinian militant groups have warned that the ceasefire which came into force on Sunday could collapse unless Israel halts military operations in the West Bank. |
| Monday's deaths occurred in the town of Qabatiya near Jenin in the northern West Bank. | Monday's deaths occurred in the town of Qabatiya near Jenin in the northern West Bank. |
| The official Palestinian news agency said the woman had been shot as she went to the aid of and injured militant from the Popular Resistance committees. The Israeli army said she had been trying to recover his gun. | |
| The last four months have seen an upsurge of violence in the Gaza Strip which has killed more than 300 Palestinians, including scores of civilians. Five Israelis have also died. | The last four months have seen an upsurge of violence in the Gaza Strip which has killed more than 300 Palestinians, including scores of civilians. Five Israelis have also died. |
| Israeli troops re-entered Gaza - which they quit more than a year ago in a unilateral withdrawal - after Palestinian militants captured a soldier in a cross-border raid in June. | Israeli troops re-entered Gaza - which they quit more than a year ago in a unilateral withdrawal - after Palestinian militants captured a soldier in a cross-border raid in June. |
| Mr Olmert won elections in January on a pledge to make further unilateral withdrawals, but credibility in the policy was dashed in a summer of conflict in Lebanon and the Gaza Strip. | Mr Olmert won elections in January on a pledge to make further unilateral withdrawals, but credibility in the policy was dashed in a summer of conflict in Lebanon and the Gaza Strip. |