Palestinian President Mahmoud Abbas (Abu-Mazen) and Israeli PM Ehud Olmert agreed in Annapolis conference to resume formal negotiations between the two sides to settle the 60 years struggle on December 12, 2007. Olmert said that they will not reach a peace agreement during 2008 although US said that they will reach an agreement before the end of 2008.

Ahmed Abul-Gheit, Egyptian Foreign Minister and Head of the Egyptian delegation in Annapolis conference said that the international conference is an important step to resume the Palestinian-Israeli negotiations. The conference also revealed that the International Community wants to settle the struggle in the ME and to establish the dependent Palestinian State to spread stability in the region. The EU hails the results of the conference although some analyzers said that the understating statement between the Palestinians and the Israelis which was stated by US President Gorge W. Bush is very vague. They added that Bush is talking about general things without putting any obligations on the Israeli side. They also mentioned that Israel did not consider the Arab peace initiative as a base for negotiations.

The phase after Annapolis conference will be credibility Quiz for the USA and serious Quiz for Israel. Heads of Hadash Party and Yisrael Beiteinu Party are threatening Olmert that they will decline the government if he implements his promises in Annapolis conference.

Al Akhbar