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Jerusalem meet fruitless

Atul Aneja

U.S. keen to assert role in wake of Putin visit

YET SO FAR AWAY: U.S. Secretary of State Condoleezza Rice, Israeli Prime Minister Ehud Olmert (right) and Palestinian leader Mahmoud Abbas at the summit in Jerusalem on Monday. — PHOTO: AFP

DUBAI: The three-way talks among U.S. Secretary of State Condoleezza Rice, Israeli Prime Minster Ehud Olmert and Palestinian President Mahmoud Abbas have failed to produce any tangible result.

After meeting Mr. Abbas and Mr. Olmert for two and a half hours at a luxury Jerusalem hotel on Monday, Ms. Rice appeared alone before the waiting press. She read out a brief statement and did not take questions.

The meeting was overshadowed by the Makkah accord, which resulted in rival Palestinian factions agreeing to a national unity government. Saudi Arabia's King Abdullah bin Abdualziz had played a key role in forging the February 8 accord. Three days later, Russian President Vladimir Putin visited the Kingdom and offered to host an international conference on West Asia in Moscow.

Leeway for Hamas

Keen to assert that the U.S. was still in charge, the statement read out by Ms. Rice said, "They [Mr. Abbas and Mr. Olmert] reiterated their desire for American participation and leadership in facilitating efforts to overcome obstacles, rally regional and international support and move forward toward peace. In that vein I expect to return to the region soon."

The U.S. has said it would decide on its disposition towards the national unity government only after it assumed charge.

Analysts point out that the Americans are willing to give the Hamas — the core of the new government, "some time" for abiding by its key demands — recognition of Israel, renunciation of violence and acceptance of past peace deals.

Mr. Abbas in his talks with the Americans prior to Ms. Rice's visit had said it was unlikely that the Hamas would show more flexibility.

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