Israeli govt determined to set borders by 2010

Israel's new government was to take office today, bringing incoming prime minister Ehud Olmert a step closer to implementing his plan of withdrawing from parts of the West Bank and drawing Israel's borders by 2010.

The plan, which would leave Israel with three main blocs of Jewish settlements in the West Bank, is to be carried out unilaterally if the Hamas-led Palestinian government refuses to recognise Israel, accept past peace agreements and renounce violence – conditions Israel has set for talking to the militant Islamic group.