Israel is "ready now for a deal," said an Israeli official attending Tuesday's U.S.-brokered Mideast summit aimed at laying the groundwork for future peace negotiations between Israel and the Palestinians.
Israeli Prime Minister Ehud Olmert and Palestinian President Mahmoud Abbas have "very good chemistry," the official said, adding that he is hopeful a document "will be finalized before we leave Washington Wednesday night."
Olmert and Abbas met Monday night to hammer out a statement that could guide peace negotiations but could not come to an agreement. The official said some of the 40 nations represented at the summit have offered Israel a chilly welcome, but their participation alone is encouraging. "The Saudis won't shake our hands; the Syrians won't say nice things about us," the Israeli official said. "But they're here." |