In Israel and the Occupied Territories, Israeli Prime Minister Ehud Olmert has announced a long-planned U.S.-backed peace conference will be held the last week of this month. The Bush administration had previously refused to give a date for the meeting. Speaking in Ramallah, Secretary of State Condoleezza Rice said she hoped the talks would lead to a final peace deal.

Secretary of State Condoleezza Rice: “This is indeed an historic time. It’s a time of real opportunity. And I look forward to working with you over the next period of time so that we might prepare for a successful meeting at Annapolis, which should be the launching pad then for the negotiations that we have long sought, negotiations that I sincerely hope, as prime minister said — Prime Minister Olmert said last night, could achieve their goal within the time remaining to the Bush administration.”

U.S. and Israeli officials say they hope to resolve all remaining final status issues but have been vague on the details. Israel has already rejected an Arab League peace offer that would provide full peace in return for a full withdrawal from the Occupied Territories.