Israel backs away from date for deal
Israeli Prime Minister Ehud Olmert backed away from a target date -- announced with great fanfare at a U.S.-hosted Mideast peace conference in November -- for reaching a deal with the Palestinians by the end of this year.
“There is no practical chance of reaching a comprehensive understanding on Jerusalem” during 2008, Olmert told a closed-door meeting of the Foreign Affairs and Defense Committee, according to an official at the gathering.
At the same time, Olmert said Arab neighborhoods in East Jerusalem pose a danger to Israelis, hinting that Israel might want to cede control of those areas.
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