Academy to host Mideast peace talks next week

Academy to host Mideast peace talks next week
By Anne Gearan - The Associated Press
Posted : Tuesday Nov 20, 2007 22:02:38 EST

WASHINGTON — The Bush administration said Tuesday it will inaugurate peace talks between Israel and the Palestinians next week, ending a seven-year lull, with a conference of leaders and diplomats the U.S. hopes will help shepherd a final Mideast settlement.

Organizers said the meeting will take place Monday through Wednesday in Washington and at the U.S. Naval Academy in Annapolis, Md., but revealed few other details, saying it was too soon to know which of the 49 invited nations and organizations would attend.

The event is meant to commit Israel and the Palestinians to formal peace talks that carry international backing.

President Bush will deliver a speech at the Naval Academy Tuesday to open a one-day session there with Israeli Prime Minister Ehud Olmert and Palestinian President Mahmoud Abbas. Bush’s role is larger than U.S. officials had earlier indicated, including meetings at the White House with the Israeli and Palestinian leaders.

He also will address conference participants at a dinner Monday night at the State Department. After the session in Annapolis, talks return to Washington on Wednesday.

“This conference will be a launching point for negotiations leading to the establishment of a Palestinian state and the realization of Israeli-Palestinian peace,” White House National Security Council spokesman Gordon Johndroe said Tuesday night.


Rest of article at: http://www.navytimes.com/news/2007/11/ap_peacetalks_071120/



uhc comment: If I made a comment on the choice of location, I'd have to tombstone myself. :mad: