Olmert Says Unclear If Abbas Deal Possible By November

By Adam Entous

JERUSALEM - Israeli Prime Minister Ehud Olmert said on Monday he was not sure he would be able to reach a deal with Palestinian President Mahmoud Abbas on statehood principles before a U.S.-sponsored conference in November.

Olmert made the comments after some members of his centrist Kadima party called for a fuller accounting of his talks with Abbas and cautioned against raising expectations they believe may not be achievable.

"I have been holding meetings with Palestinian Authority Chairman Abu Mazen (Abbas) and I hope that in the near future this will lead to a ... joint declaration," Olmert told reporters. "If we can achieve a draft by November, we will achieve it, but I am not sure we will be able to do that."

Olmert seeks agreement on a broadbrush "declaration of principles" whereas Abbas wants a more explicit "framework agreement" with a timeline for implementation on the core issues of borders, Jerusalem and the fate of Palestinian refugees.

"A genuine project for peace should be presented to this conference so it can serve as a basis for negotiations and reach towards a final settlement," Abbas told reporters in the West Bank city of Ramallah.

Olmert will meet with international envoy Tony Blair in Jerusalem on Tuesday. He will also meet this week with Assistant U.S. Secretary of State David Welch, diplomats said.

Senior Palestinian negotiator Saeb Erekat said Olmert and Abbas planned to meet "in the next few days" to try to narrow their differences.

A dearth of details about their private talks have stirred speculation in Israel that Olmert plans to boost Abbas through sweeping diplomatic "concessions" such as a pledge to delineate a future Palestinian state.

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