Only a few hours since the Israeli-Palestinian document has been issued in Annapolis for a peaceful settlement, Israeli Prime Minister Ehud Olmert stressed three new NOs which are worthy of shelling the understanding document which talked about peaceful settlement by the end of next year.

The United States of America is propagating such an understanding document to the world on grounds of being its biggest achievement in the Middle East region.

Israeli Jerusalem Post newspaper quoted Olmert as saying that the Mount Temple will be outside the range of discussions during the negotiations with the Palestinians while Israel will not confine itself to a deadline for realizing the long-awaited settlement. He added that Israelis will not implement any agreement except after Palestinians meet all requirements of the roadmap plan, according to the newspaper.

The question is: what is the value of understandings and joint documents if not implemented by one of the parties and approved them just for the sake of US? Statements of Olmert proved doubts that his current positions and retreat of his popularity as well as investigations with him on corruption issues will not allow Olmert to take a positive step or decision.

No one can imagine the future but it seems that Olmert's statements represent his real stance during the negotiations but not what he approved in the understanding document.

Al Ahram

30/11/2007