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Abbas 'ready for Olmert meeting' Abbas 'ready for Olmert meeting'
(20 minutes later)
Palestinian president Mahmoud Abbas has said he is ready for "unconditional" talks with his Israeli counterpart, after talks with the UK's Tony Blair.Palestinian president Mahmoud Abbas has said he is ready for "unconditional" talks with his Israeli counterpart, after talks with the UK's Tony Blair.
Mr Abbas' announcement comes a day after Israeli Prime Minister Ehud Olmert also said he was prepared for talks without conditions.Mr Abbas' announcement comes a day after Israeli Prime Minister Ehud Olmert also said he was prepared for talks without conditions.
Mr Blair said there was a "window of opportunity" for the two sides to engage in negotiations.Mr Blair said there was a "window of opportunity" for the two sides to engage in negotiations.
He said the road map for peace had taken a backward step in recent months.He said the road map for peace had taken a backward step in recent months.
Mr Blair said the international community was ready to deal with a Palestinian government of national unity if it withdrew from the anti-Israeli policies of Hamas, which gained control of the Palestinian parliament in elections in January.
"I believe that such a government, based on the Quartet requirements, does offer the possibility of re-engagement by the international community," Mr Blair said.
The Quartet of Middle East peace brokers - the US, the European Union, the United Nations and Russia - has boycotted the Hamas-led government, cutting off vital funds.
Mr Blair will not be meeting the leaders of the Hamas-controlled Palestinian government during his tour of the Mid-East.Mr Blair will not be meeting the leaders of the Hamas-controlled Palestinian government during his tour of the Mid-East.
A Downing Street spokesman said: "The purpose of this visit was to hear the views from all sides so we came here today to hear the views of the Palestinian president.A Downing Street spokesman said: "The purpose of this visit was to hear the views from all sides so we came here today to hear the views of the Palestinian president.
'Dialogue''Dialogue'
"He will bring with him the views he heard from Prime Minister Olmert and look to hear Palestinian views and Palestinian concerns and try to see how we can get back to some sort of dialogue.""He will bring with him the views he heard from Prime Minister Olmert and look to hear Palestinian views and Palestinian concerns and try to see how we can get back to some sort of dialogue."
Britain, like the rest of the EU, is boycotting the Hamas administration.
Prior to his meeting with Mr Abbas, Mr Blair met with the families of Israeli soldiers seized by Islamic militants in Gaza and Lebanon.Prior to his meeting with Mr Abbas, Mr Blair met with the families of Israeli soldiers seized by Islamic militants in Gaza and Lebanon.
A Downing Street spokesman said Mr Blair would raise the subject during his visit and hoped the men would be at home to celebrate the Jewish New Year later this month.A Downing Street spokesman said Mr Blair would raise the subject during his visit and hoped the men would be at home to celebrate the Jewish New Year later this month.
The prime minister's visit to the Middle East comes amid the continuing row over when he leaves office.The prime minister's visit to the Middle East comes amid the continuing row over when he leaves office.
There is a crisis. The economy is level zero Hamas spokesman Ghazi Hamad UN warns of Gaza 'breaking point' There is a crisis. The economy is level zero Hamas spokesman Ghazi Hamad UN warns of Gaza 'breaking point'
Mr Blair said the stability of the Middle East was essential to the rest of the world, including the UK.Mr Blair said the stability of the Middle East was essential to the rest of the world, including the UK.
"It's very easy to be pessimistic ... but I do believe that with goodwill and the right leadership it can be done," he said on Saturday. "It's very important that we see what we can do to re-energize this process.""It's very easy to be pessimistic ... but I do believe that with goodwill and the right leadership it can be done," he said on Saturday. "It's very important that we see what we can do to re-energize this process."
"We worked very hard to get the only cease-fire that was ever going to be sustainable, and that was one based on the political framework set out in (UN) Resolution 1701," he said."We worked very hard to get the only cease-fire that was ever going to be sustainable, and that was one based on the political framework set out in (UN) Resolution 1701," he said.
Speaking of the recent Lebanon conflict, Mr Blair said he wanted to work to make sure the UN resolution which ended the conflict was fully implemented.Speaking of the recent Lebanon conflict, Mr Blair said he wanted to work to make sure the UN resolution which ended the conflict was fully implemented.
"We worked very hard to get the only cease-fire that was ever going to be sustainable, and that was one based on the political framework set out in (UN) Resolution 1701," he said."We worked very hard to get the only cease-fire that was ever going to be sustainable, and that was one based on the political framework set out in (UN) Resolution 1701," he said.
Mr Olmert said he was ready to begin talks with Mr Abbas to advance peace efforts.Mr Olmert said he was ready to begin talks with Mr Abbas to advance peace efforts.
The EU has insisted Hamas recognises Israel's right to exist before there can be any dialogue with the administration.The EU has insisted Hamas recognises Israel's right to exist before there can be any dialogue with the administration.
Mr Blair met Mr Olmert on SaturdayMr Blair met Mr Olmert on Saturday
But Hamas argues the real problem has been Mr Blair's attachment to the US, which it says views the Middle East from Israel's perspective.But Hamas argues the real problem has been Mr Blair's attachment to the US, which it says views the Middle East from Israel's perspective.
Civil servants, including teachers, have gone on strike because of wage freezes prompted by the EU boycott.Civil servants, including teachers, have gone on strike because of wage freezes prompted by the EU boycott.
"There is a crisis. The economy is level zero. The security situation is very hard," Hamas spokesman Ghazi Hamad told the news agency AFP."There is a crisis. The economy is level zero. The security situation is very hard," Hamas spokesman Ghazi Hamad told the news agency AFP.
Israeli vice premier Shimon Peres told Israeli radio a plan for troops to pull out of parts of the occupied West Bank had "disappeared" in the wake of recent Hezbollah attacks, the Associated Press news agency said.Israeli vice premier Shimon Peres told Israeli radio a plan for troops to pull out of parts of the occupied West Bank had "disappeared" in the wake of recent Hezbollah attacks, the Associated Press news agency said.
"We evacuated Gaza and Lebanon and they continued to fire from there like fools," Mr Peres was quoted as saying."We evacuated Gaza and Lebanon and they continued to fire from there like fools," Mr Peres was quoted as saying.