Olmert-Bush talks cover Gaza plans Fonts Size: Associated Press 2006-05-24 Page 4 Published: 2006-05-24 12:00:40 With formal peacemaking a dim prospect at this volatile time, Israeli Prime Minister Ehud Olmert was to discuss his ambitious plan to impose a West Bank settlement on the Palestinians by relinquishing most of the Israeli-held territory to them with U.S. President George W. Bush on Tuesday. Two years ago, Bush gave then-Prime Minister Ariel Sharon approval to absorb eventually a handful of Jewish settlements near Jerusalem in the event of a peace accord. But Bush's recognition of "facts on the ground" - the settlements are solidly Jewish and virtually cities in size - promptly was tempered with U.S. insistence that any territorial accord would require the approval of the Palestinian side. Olmert's bid for presidential approval of a unilateral approach is enhanced by the fact that both the Bush administration and Israel have ruled out negotiations with the Hamas-dominated Palestinian Authority. On a fast-paced visit, Olmert also had talks planned Tuesday with Defense Secretary Donald H. Rumsfeld, on Wednesday with Vice President Dick Cheney and House of Representatives Speaker Dennis Hastert and the honor of speaking to a joint meeting of Congress. Also, on Monday a diplomatic official in Washington said the Bush administration is sending two of its top Middle East envoys, Assistant Secretary of State David Welch and Elliott Abrams of the National Security Council, to the region soon to gather information about Olmert's plans. Hamas is classified as a terror group by the State Department and the European Union. It refuses to accept Israel's existence or renounce attacks against the Jewish state. Having no negotiating partner on the Palestinian side, Olmert intends to impose his own terms during the next two years, retaining part of the West Bank but assuring the Palestinians a state on land of their own. The pattern was set on a far-smaller scale by Sharon, who decided to withdraw unilaterally all 9,000 Jewish inhabitants and all Israeli troops from the Gaza Strip and give the area to the Palestinians. Reluctant at first, the Bush administration went along. Tony Snow, the White House spokesman, said Monday he did not expect "anything formal" to emerge from Tuesday's White House meeting. The president and the prime minister "are going to be talking about ways to keep moving forward" with peacemaking, Snow said. Similarly, Israeli ambassador Daniel Ayalon said "we must all examine different options to break the stalemate, and all these issues will be discussed between Prime Minister Olmert and President Bush as a very good and trusted friend." http://www.taiwannews.com.tw/etn/news_content.php?id=104990&lang=eng_news&cate_img=38.jpg&cate_rss=news_Politics --

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