SHARM EL-SHEIK, Egypt — Israeli Prime Minister Ehud Olmert flew to Egypt on Tuesday to rally Arab support for next week’s U.S.-hosted Mideast peace conference, telling the leader of the largest Arab country that a peace deal with the Palestinians can be signed within a year.
Olmert’s statement was the closest he has come to providing a firm timetable for a peace deal, as the Palestinians have demanded.
However, Olmert suggested that implementing such a deal won’t be possible as long as Hamas militants control the Gaza Strip.
Olmert’s one-day trip to Egypt came ahead of a meeting in Cairo on Friday of the Arab League, where key Arab governments will decide whether to attend next week’s conference in Annapolis, Md.
The U.S. hopes Annapolis will launch the first serious round of Israel-Palestinian negotiations in seven years and has been pushing the sides to endorse a joint document laying out their vision for peace ahead of the conference.
But negotiators say they have made little progress, casting a cloud over the summit, which is expected to begin Monday.
Arab participation is considered crucial for the summit’s success.
Invitations en route to key players WASHINGTON — President Bush began reaching out Tuesday to key nations that could be spoilers for a U.S.-sponsored Mideast peace conference as the United States issued the first invitations to the gathering.
Initial invitations were sent to Israel and the Palestinians on Tuesday, and the United States has told dozens of other nations and organizations to expect invitations soon. The offers to the two major players were long expected, and both have already said they will attend the session, expected to be held next week in Annapolis, Md.
Bush discussed the meeting with Russian President Vladimir Putin and Saudi King Abdullah by phone Tuesday. Russia and Saudi Arabia would be key participants, and their absence would all but doom chances for the session to be considered a serious run at peace.
