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| Version 4 | Version 5 |
|---|---|
| Invites issued to Mid-East summit | Invites issued to Mid-East summit |
| (about 1 hour later) | |
| Palestinian Authority President Mahmoud Abbas and Israeli Prime Minister Ehud Olmert have received invitations to US-sponsored peace talks in Maryland. | Palestinian Authority President Mahmoud Abbas and Israeli Prime Minister Ehud Olmert have received invitations to US-sponsored peace talks in Maryland. |
| The US state department confirmed that key Arab states including Syria and Saudi Arabia had also been invited. | |
| The Bush administration hopes the conference will relaunch negotiations to establish a Palestinian state, seven years after the last talks failed. | The Bush administration hopes the conference will relaunch negotiations to establish a Palestinian state, seven years after the last talks failed. |
| The talks are being held on 27 November at the Annapolis naval base, Maryland. | |
| Washington is still trying to persuade Arab states, including Saudi Arabia and Syria, to send delegates. | Washington is still trying to persuade Arab states, including Saudi Arabia and Syria, to send delegates. |
| US President George W Bush telephoned leaders on Tuesday, among them Russian President Vladimir Putin and Saudi King Abdullah, the White House said. | US President George W Bush telephoned leaders on Tuesday, among them Russian President Vladimir Putin and Saudi King Abdullah, the White House said. |
| However, Syria again insisted that it would not attend the meeting unless the return of the Israeli-occupied Golan Heights was on the agenda. | |
| Preparations | Preparations |
| Negotiations on a joint Israeli-Palestinian document to serve as a blueprint for future talks have made little progress, casting a cloud over the summit. | Negotiations on a joint Israeli-Palestinian document to serve as a blueprint for future talks have made little progress, casting a cloud over the summit. |
| Israel and the Palestinians are divided over the fate of the West Bank, Gaza, and east Jerusalem, occupied by Israel since 1967, and the Palestinian refugee problem which dates back to the establishment of Israel in 1948. | Israel and the Palestinians are divided over the fate of the West Bank, Gaza, and east Jerusalem, occupied by Israel since 1967, and the Palestinian refugee problem which dates back to the establishment of Israel in 1948. |
| Earlier in the day, Israeli Prime Minister Ehud Olmert and Egyptian President Hosni Mubarak held a rare meeting to co-ordinate preparations for the Annapolis meeting. | Earlier in the day, Israeli Prime Minister Ehud Olmert and Egyptian President Hosni Mubarak held a rare meeting to co-ordinate preparations for the Annapolis meeting. |
| Israel and the US have been pressing for high level Arab representation at the meeting. | Israel and the US have been pressing for high level Arab representation at the meeting. |
| Arab foreign ministers are meeting in Cairo on Friday to co-ordinate their positions, although each government is to decide separately whether to send a delegation. | Arab foreign ministers are meeting in Cairo on Friday to co-ordinate their positions, although each government is to decide separately whether to send a delegation. |
| Egyptian officials say they are convinced the US is now committed to launching a serious peace process and its foreign minister is expected to attend. | Egyptian officials say they are convinced the US is now committed to launching a serious peace process and its foreign minister is expected to attend. |
| Analysts say other Arab states, including Saudi Arabia, believe Israel has not offered enough assurances about its seriousness to reach peace and to make the necessary sacrifices. | Analysts say other Arab states, including Saudi Arabia, believe Israel has not offered enough assurances about its seriousness to reach peace and to make the necessary sacrifices. |
| Syria has said it will only join the conference if the issue of the Golan Heights, also occupied by Israel in 1967, is on the agenda. | Syria has said it will only join the conference if the issue of the Golan Heights, also occupied by Israel in 1967, is on the agenda. |