Olmert plays down hopes of Palestinian peace deal before end of 2008

ISRAELI Prime Minister Ehud Olmert yesterday played down expectations for a peace deal with the Palestinians before the end of 2008 as laid out at a US-sponsored peace conference last week.

“We will make an effort to hold speedy negotiations in the hope we may conclude by the end of 2008, but certainly there is no commitment for a firm timetable for their completion,” said Mr Olmert at the start of the Israeli cabinet meeting yesterday.

US President George W Bush assured Israeli and Palestinian leaders at the conference in Annapolis, Maryland, that Washington would actively engage in peacemaking, despite scepticism over chances for a deal before he leaves office.