One of the most important issues in the negotiations between the Palestinians and the Israelis is putting a fixed timetable for the negotiations. All the Arabs demand a fixed timetable before starting Annapolis conference and Palestinian President Mahmoud Abbas said that this timetable must not exceed 6 months. Egypt and Saudi Arabia said that the timetable of the negotiations must not exceed one year this the Palestinians and the Israelis must reach to an agreement before the end of 2008. For his part, Ehud Olmert said when he met President Mubarak in Cairo before attending Annapolis conference that he understands the Arab demands.

In spite of all these efforts exerted by the Arabs including Egypt and Saudi Arabia, the fixed timetable for the negotiations is left undetermined. But it was agreed that the Palestinian-Israeli political settlement will be within one year meaning that it will finish before the end of 2008. This agreement reveals the seriousness of the US side as stated by Palestinian President Abu Mazen. The known UN resolutions, Road Map plan and Arab Peace Initiative are bases for the negotiations.

In my opinion it is very important that the Israeli side starts real negotiations without losing the chance.

Ibrahim Nafia

Al Ahram