Israeli PM Ehud Olmert has said he does not believe a peace settlement, including Jerusalem, can be reached with the Palestinians this year.
Peace can't be achieved without Israel giving away East Jerusalem and stopping the settlements in West Bank. The settlements will eventually end, but do you think Israel will give East Jerusalem away?BBC wrote:
The deadline was set at a US-sponsored summit at Annapolis in November 2007.
US officials still say they hope a deal can be reached by the time President George W Bush leaves office in January.
Mr Olmert told an Israeli parliamentary committee that there was no practical chance of reaching a deal that would include an understanding on Jerusalem.
Palestinian officials blame Israel for what they say is a lack of progress in peace talks. Specifically, they say that the continued building of settlements has undermined Palestinians who back talks with Israel.
Palestinians want to establish a capital for their future state in East Jerusalem.
A senior Palestinian spokesman, Nabil Abu Rudeina, said:
"Olmert's statements [on East Jerusalem] are an attempt to run away from the commitments of the Annapolis conference and the vision of President Bush.
"The American administration must work to push Israel to enter into serious negotiations and stop wasting time."
