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Abbas and Olmert agree on talks Bush embarks on Middle East visit
(about 5 hours later)
Israeli and Palestinian leaders have agreed to negotiate on the core issues dividing them, as US President George W Bush embarks on a tour of the region. US President George W Bush is on his way to Israel for his first visit to the Middle East since taking office.
Palestinian leader Mahmoud Abbas and Israeli PM Ehud Olmert authorised talks on issues such as Israeli settlements and the borders of a Palestinian state. Ahead of his arrival Palestinian and Israeli leaders agreed to negotiate on key issues dividing them like Israeli settlements and Palestinian refugees.
The two leaders vowed at a US summit last year to try to achieve a two-state solution by the end of 2008. Palestinian leader Mahmoud Abbas and Israeli PM Ehud Olmert vowed at a US summit last year to try to achieve a two-state solution by the end of 2008.
Mr Bush hopes to kick-start the process when he arrives on Wednesday. Mr Bush hopes to kick-start the process on his tour of the Middle East.
The status of Jerusalem and the question of Palestinian refugees are also key issues dividing the two sides. In a meeting on Tuesday, Mr Abbas and Mr Olmert authorised their negotiators to begin discussing "final-status" issues of the borders of a future Palestinian state and the status of Jerusalem.
After holding talks with Mr Olmert and Israeli President Shimon Peres in Jerusalem on Wednesday, Mr Bush is to go to the West Bank to meet Mr Abbas.
He also plans to visit the Church of the Nativity in the West Bank town of Bethlehem before making stops in Kuwait, Bahrain, the United Arab Emirates, Saudi Arabia and Egypt.
Regional scepticism
Mr Bush left Andrews Air Force base on Tuesday evening and is due to arrive in Tel Aviv at 1200 (1000 GMT) on Wednesday.Mr Bush left Andrews Air Force base on Tuesday evening and is due to arrive in Tel Aviv at 1200 (1000 GMT) on Wednesday.
He has said there will be three main themes to his first visit as US president to the region. He has said there will be three main themes to his visit.
We are expecting that President Bush will get Israel to freeze settlement activity Nabil Abu Rudeina,Abbas spokesman Lasting legacy?We are expecting that President Bush will get Israel to freeze settlement activity Nabil Abu Rudeina,Abbas spokesman Lasting legacy?
He said Palestinians need to have a clearly defined vision of a state that can exist alongside Israel, and both Palestinians and Israelis need to fulfil their obligations to bring about this vision.He said Palestinians need to have a clearly defined vision of a state that can exist alongside Israel, and both Palestinians and Israelis need to fulfil their obligations to bring about this vision.
He also repeated that the US was committed to security in the region. But correspondents say many Israelis and Palestinians are sceptical about the chances for progress.He also repeated that the US was committed to security in the region. But correspondents say many Israelis and Palestinians are sceptical about the chances for progress.
'Year to reach peace''Year to reach peace'
Officials say the leaders' talks in Jerusalem were intended to keep up the momentum achieved at the peace conference in Annapolis, Maryland, in November.Officials say the leaders' talks in Jerusalem were intended to keep up the momentum achieved at the peace conference in Annapolis, Maryland, in November.
Chief Palestinian negotiator Saeb Erekat said it had been agreed that Israeli Foreign Minister Tzipi Livni and former Palestinian Prime Minister Ahmed Qurei, also known as Abu Ala, would "start intensive meetings to immediately discuss all core issues of a final status agreement."Chief Palestinian negotiator Saeb Erekat said it had been agreed that Israeli Foreign Minister Tzipi Livni and former Palestinian Prime Minister Ahmed Qurei, also known as Abu Ala, would "start intensive meetings to immediately discuss all core issues of a final status agreement."
Mr Bush (c) will hope to build on the Maryland summit"The president [Abbas] urged that the year of 2008 be made the year to reach peace. The intention is to see to it that we give peace a chance," Mr Erekat said. Mr Olmert (left) and Mr Abbas agreed to talks on "core issues""The president [Abbas] urged that the year of 2008 be made the year to reach peace. The intention is to see to it that we give peace a chance," Mr Erekat said.
But the BBC's Bethany Bell in Jerusalem says the rows over Israeli settlement construction in occupied East Jerusalem and of militant rocket fire into Israeli territory have not gone away.But the BBC's Bethany Bell in Jerusalem says the rows over Israeli settlement construction in occupied East Jerusalem and of militant rocket fire into Israeli territory have not gone away.
Mr Olmert has expressed particular concern at one rocket attack that reached as far as the Israeli town of Ashkelon, 15km (nine miles) from the border.Mr Olmert has expressed particular concern at one rocket attack that reached as far as the Israeli town of Ashkelon, 15km (nine miles) from the border.
For their part, the Palestinians are angry that Israel wants to build more than 300 new apartments in a disputed part of Jerusalem.For their part, the Palestinians are angry that Israel wants to build more than 300 new apartments in a disputed part of Jerusalem.
Abbas spokesman Nabil Abu Rudeina said: "We are expecting that President Bush will get Israel to freeze settlement activity."Abbas spokesman Nabil Abu Rudeina said: "We are expecting that President Bush will get Israel to freeze settlement activity."
Tougher questions remainTougher questions remain
The Palestinians have also accused Israel of stepping up raids in the occupied territories ahead of Mr Bush's visit.The Palestinians have also accused Israel of stepping up raids in the occupied territories ahead of Mr Bush's visit.
A further issue is the removal of Israeli outposts in the West Bank.A further issue is the removal of Israeli outposts in the West Bank.
Beyond that even tougher questions remain - the Palestinians made refugees since Israel's creation in 1948 and the sovereignty of Jerusalem.Beyond that even tougher questions remain - the Palestinians made refugees since Israel's creation in 1948 and the sovereignty of Jerusalem.
Mr Abbas also faces the problem of Gaza - under the control of militant group Hamas since his Fatah faction was thrown out last summer.Mr Abbas also faces the problem of Gaza - under the control of militant group Hamas since his Fatah faction was thrown out last summer.
Militant rocket fire continues into Israel from Gaza, sparking Israeli military responses.Militant rocket fire continues into Israel from Gaza, sparking Israeli military responses.
The two leaders have had regular meetings for several months but little post-Maryland progress has been reported.The two leaders have had regular meetings for several months but little post-Maryland progress has been reported.