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Britain to Host Mid-East Peace Summit
(Telegraph-UK) Anton La Guardia - Britain has won American agreement to hold an international peace conference on the Middle East in London next January or February. Senior diplomatic sources say that preparations for the conference are at the heart of attempts to heal the transatlantic divisions caused by the war in Iraq. Britain wants to show the Arab and Islamic world that the West is committed to establishing a Palestinian state, but America and Israel are wary of attending a high-profile event. America and Israel want a businesslike meeting to focus on "practical issues" such as rebuilding Palestinian security services and providing financial support for Palestinians after Israel's planned withdrawal from Gaza next year. An Israeli source said: "We will be able to take part if the British keep it practical. But if it becomes an attempt to dictate terms to Israel, they will lose us along the way."