A Conversation With Ehud Olmert

I don't know if you call it a statement of principles or a declaration of principles. They all amount to the same thing. We want to be able to define the vision of President Bush about the two states in a more accurate, specific and detailed manner.

I heard that you have a very good relationship with Abbas. Is that correct?

Yes. Because we meet quite regularly. More or less twice a month. I don't know of any greater frequency of meetings between leaders of nations.

Is it true that the talks have gone fairly far?

Yes, I think so -- far enough to justify the efforts we are making and the desire to continue. Whether it is sufficient is a little bit premature to say.

What can you say about the talks in detail? Do you think Israel would give up settlements, retreat to the pre-'67 borders? How do you see the final outcome of the negotiations?

Well, one can say that the borders, once agreed, will be closer to what they were in '67 than what they are today because we will give up a large part of the territories . . . in the context of full, comprehensive peace and the total end of any hostilities.

Does that mean the Palestinians will give up the right of return?

I don't think they have to give it up. They don't have a right of return, and I don't think that this is on the agenda as far as Israel is concerned.

You said [a Palestinian state] would be closer to the pre-'67 borders. Do you think you can achieve such an agreement?

I think that the distance between us and them is not unbridgeable. I think that there are three issues which can be resolved: One is the territorial issue; the other is security arrangements; and the third is refugees.

Do you want peace with Syria, and do you think it's obtainable with President Bashar al-Assad?