October 19, 2007	Friday	Shawwal 6, 1428

JERUSALEM, Oct 18: US Secretary of State Condoleezza Rice wound up a Middle East tour on Thursday saying there was a “moment of opportunity” for peace but warning that much work was still needed to be done.In a move that could help bridge differences ahead of a US-sponsored peace meeting, Israel said it was prepared to address core issues of the decades-old conflict in a document being drawn up with the Palestinians for the conference.

The top US diplomat was due to leave Tel Aviv for London on Thursday after four days of shuttle diplomacy between Israeli and Palestinian leaders to advance preparations for the meeting.

“I do think that it is a moment of opportunity but of course there is very hard work to do,” Rice said late on Wednesday.

An Israel official said on Thursday that Prime Minister Ehud Olmert has agreed to outline solutions “in broad brushstrokes” to all the outstanding issues dividing Israelis and Palestinians — refugees, Jerusalem and final borders — in the joint statement.

“We will make reference to all the core issues in the joint statement, we will offer directions for the talks, although the statement will not offer the full solution to the questions,” the official said.

The change in the Olmert stance marks a success for Rice's efforts to bridge gaps between Israel and the Palestinians, who had demanded a detailed agreement and timeframe for implementing solutions to the core issues.

The two sides are expected to launch negotiations on a final peace agreement that will lead to the creation of a Palestinian state immediately following the meeting due to be held in Annapolis, Maryland.

Palestinian president Mahmud Abbas had warned on Wednesday he would not attend the meeting if there were no real prospects for results and accused Israel of hampering peace efforts.

“Time must not be lost because that's not in anyone's interest. We cannot go to the meeting at any cost. It is unacceptable to go there at any cost,” Abbas told reporters after meeting Rice for a second time.

“We want to reach a clear document that will help us to start negotiations under a definite timetable. We need a clear document and a deadline to reach a definitive result,” Abbas added.

In Washington, US President George W. Bush expressed confidence, however, that the meeting would lay the foundation for a Palestinian state and broader regional peace.

“I'm encouraged from what Condi tells me is going on in the Middle East.

The attitude is, 'let's work together to lay out that vision for the sake of peace between Israel and the Palestinians, and it's possible.'”

The latest US push to revive the peace process comes after nearly seven years of diplomatic deadlock following the collapse of the Camp David peace summit and violence between the two sides that has killed nearly 5,900 people. Speaking alongside Israeli Foreign Minister Tzipi Livni in Jerusalem, Rice said the conference must address the core issues.—AFP