Israelis and Palestinians Try to Set Pace for Peace Talks as Bush Plans Speech

http://www.nytimes.com/2007/11/27/wa...html?th&emc=th

Israelis and Palestinians Try to Set Pace for Peace Talks as Bush Plans Speech

WASHINGTON, Nov. 26 — Israeli and Palestinian negotiators made progress on Monday toward completing a joint statement for the planned Middle East peace conference in Annapolis, Md., and President Bush appeared ready to paper over remaining differences between the two sides with his planned speech on Tuesday.

Palestinian negotiators expressed optimism that they would come away from the conference with enough substance — including a timetable for a year of renewed, intense negotiations — to give the Palestinian president, Mahmoud Abbas, the political cover he needs to satisfy battle-weary Palestinians back home.

I am not as optimistic as the Palestinian negotiators, but at least they are talking, especially now.
I will feel better when they do this on their own, without the US involved.