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| Version 1 | Version 2 |
|---|---|
| Leaders prepare for key Bush tour | Leaders prepare for key Bush tour |
| (about 6 hours later) | |
| Israeli and Palestinian leaders are meeting in Jerusalem to try to ease problems in the Mid-East peace process ahead of the US president's key tour. | |
| Palestinian leader Mahmoud Abbas and Israeli PM Ehud Olmert had vowed at a US summit last year to try to achieve a two-state solution by the end of 2008. | Palestinian leader Mahmoud Abbas and Israeli PM Ehud Olmert had vowed at a US summit last year to try to achieve a two-state solution by the end of 2008. |
| But conflict over Israeli settlements and security have soured the process. | But conflict over Israeli settlements and security have soured the process. |
| George W Bush hopes to kick-start it when he arrives on Wednesday for his first visit to the region as president. | George W Bush hopes to kick-start it when he arrives on Wednesday for his first visit to the region as president. |
| Gaza violence | Gaza violence |
| Officials say the Jerusalem talks are intended to keep up the momentum achieved at the peace conference in Annapolis, Maryland, in November. | Officials say the Jerusalem talks are intended to keep up the momentum achieved at the peace conference in Annapolis, Maryland, in November. |
| We are expecting that President Bush will get Israel to freeze settlement activity Nabil Abu Rudeina,Abbas spokesman Lasting legacy? | We are expecting that President Bush will get Israel to freeze settlement activity Nabil Abu Rudeina,Abbas spokesman Lasting legacy? |
| It is hoped the sides can agree a framework for final-status talks. | It is hoped the sides can agree a framework for final-status talks. |
| But the BBC's Bethany Bell in Jerusalem says the issues of Israeli settlement construction in occupied East Jerusalem and of militant rocket fire into Israeli territory are likely to be part of their agenda. | But the BBC's Bethany Bell in Jerusalem says the issues of Israeli settlement construction in occupied East Jerusalem and of militant rocket fire into Israeli territory are likely to be part of their agenda. |
| Mr Olmert has expressed particular concern at one rocket attack that reached as far as the Israeli town of Ashkelon, 15km (nine miles) from the border. | Mr Olmert has expressed particular concern at one rocket attack that reached as far as the Israeli town of Ashkelon, 15km (nine miles) from the border. |
| For their part, the Palestinians are angry Israel wants to build more than 300 new apartments in a disputed part of Jerusalem. | For their part, the Palestinians are angry Israel wants to build more than 300 new apartments in a disputed part of Jerusalem. |
| Abbas spokesman Nabil Abu Rudeina said: "We are expecting that President Bush will get Israel to freeze settlement activity." | Abbas spokesman Nabil Abu Rudeina said: "We are expecting that President Bush will get Israel to freeze settlement activity." |
| The Palestinians have also accused Israel of stepping up raids in the occupied territories ahead of Mr Bush's visit. | The Palestinians have also accused Israel of stepping up raids in the occupied territories ahead of Mr Bush's visit. |
| Israeli settlement construction remains a key problem | Israeli settlement construction remains a key problem |
| A further issue is the removal of Israeli outposts in the West Bank. | A further issue is the removal of Israeli outposts in the West Bank. |
| Beyond that even tougher questions remain - the Palestinians made refugees since Israel's creation in 1948 and the sovereignty of Jerusalem. | Beyond that even tougher questions remain - the Palestinians made refugees since Israel's creation in 1948 and the sovereignty of Jerusalem. |
| Mr Abbas also faces the problem of Gaza - under the control of militant group Hamas since his Fatah faction was thrown out last summer. | Mr Abbas also faces the problem of Gaza - under the control of militant group Hamas since his Fatah faction was thrown out last summer. |
| Militant rocket fire continues into Israel from Gaza, sparking Israeli military responses. | Militant rocket fire continues into Israel from Gaza, sparking Israeli military responses. |
| The two leaders have had regular meetings for several months but little post-Maryland progress has been reported. | The two leaders have had regular meetings for several months but little post-Maryland progress has been reported. |
| On Monday Israeli Foreign Minister Tzipi Livni and former Palestinian Prime Minister Ahmed Qurei, also known as Abu Ala, met in initial talks ahead of the Bush visit but no announcement on any agreements was made. | On Monday Israeli Foreign Minister Tzipi Livni and former Palestinian Prime Minister Ahmed Qurei, also known as Abu Ala, met in initial talks ahead of the Bush visit but no announcement on any agreements was made. |
| Analysts say final-status negotiations could take place in secret with working groups established to tackle specific issues. | Analysts say final-status negotiations could take place in secret with working groups established to tackle specific issues. |
| Mr Bush arrives on Wednesday on a three-day regional mission. | Mr Bush arrives on Wednesday on a three-day regional mission. |
| He has given a number of interviews with regional press ahead of his trip, expressing optimism but being wary of setting any timetable. | He has given a number of interviews with regional press ahead of his trip, expressing optimism but being wary of setting any timetable. |
| The BBC's Matthew Price says the US is promoting a "freedom agenda" of pushing democracy as a counterpoint to terrorism but while that looks good on paper in Washington it is less convincing on the streets of the Arab world. | The BBC's Matthew Price says the US is promoting a "freedom agenda" of pushing democracy as a counterpoint to terrorism but while that looks good on paper in Washington it is less convincing on the streets of the Arab world. |