[AP/Washington Post] Steven Gutkin - President Bush's goal of forging an Israeli-Palestinian peace deal within five months is looking increasingly unattainable. These days it's hard to find anyone optimistic about the deal's January 2009 target date, announced with great fanfare at a U.S.-hosted Mideast peace conference nine months ago. Of all the obstacles to peace, none is more formidable than Hamas' violent takeover of Gaza 14 months ago. The Palestinians holding talks with Israel control only the West Bank, but say their future state must include both the West Bank and Gaza, two separate land masses located on opposite sides of Israel.
2008-09-01 01:00:00Full ArticleBACK Visit the Daily Alert Archive