PEACE IN ONE YEAR

Israel-Palestinian peace deal possible within year: Abbas
Fri Mar 24, 4:07 AM ET

RAMALLAH, West Bank (AFP) - Palestinian leader Mahmud Abbas said a peace agreement with Israel could be a year away.

"I am convinced that within less than a year, we will be able to sign an agreement," he was quoted as saying by the liberal Haaretz newspaper on Friday. He said he had discussed with Washington and former Israeli premier Shimon Peres, number two on the governing Kadima party's election list, the idea of opening secret talks even without radical group Hamas renouncing violence.

"I proposed to Peres and the Americans to open a back channel of talks, far from the spotlight," he was quoted as saying by Haaretz. Abbas and Peres met in Jordan earlier this month, when the Palestinian leader emphasised his desire for a resumption of stalled peace negotiations.
Abbas also used the interview to criticise Acting Prime Minister Ehud Olmert's intentions to fix the borders of Israel unilaterally, should no Palestinian partner materialise, provided his Kadima party wins Tuesday's vote.

"Olmert's plan may bring about a 10-year hudna (tactical truce) and a state with temporary borders. But it will not bring you peace," Abbas said. He did not rule out a territorial swap under a negotiated accord, which would allow Israel to retain some Jewish settlements in the occupied
West Bank' He reiterated that as Palestinian Authority' president he had the people's mandate to negotiate with Israel and that future talks, regardless of Hamas, would be led by the Palestine Liberation Organisation that he leads.

Its executive committee on Wednesday demanded that the radical Islamist faction change its political platform and recognise the PLO's supremacy."If we reach an agreement, I will be the one to sign it. If needed, I will put it to a referendum," Abbas was quoted as saying by Haaretz.