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Bush Won't See Mideast Deal During Term

In region, Rice aims to keep process on track for Obama's team

By Nick McMaster, Newser Staff

Posted Nov 6, 2008 4:46 PM CST

(Newser) – Israel and the Palestinians won’t likely reach a peace agreement by the 2009 deadline set at the Annapolis negotiations a year ago, the White House said today. The Bush administration began to question the feasibility of the deadline when a corruption scandal ousted PM Ehud Olmert and set the stage for a new leader to be chosen in February, AP reports.

Secretary of State Condoleezza Rice is in the Middle East to secure what progress has been made in negotiations for Barack Obama’s administration. “The Annapolis process has laid groundwork” for establishing a Palestinian state, Rice said. “I think that whatever happens by the end of the year, you've got a firm foundation for quickly moving this forward to conclusion.”

[Images (4)]

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United States Secretary of State Condoleezza Rice, left, and Israeli Foreign Minister Tzipi Livni, hold a press conference at the U.S. ambassador to Israel's residence in Herzliya, Israel, Thursday,... (AP Photo/Pavel Wolberg, Pool)

Condoleezza Rice holds a joint press conference with Israeli Foreign Minister Tzipi Livni today in Israel. (AP Photo)

President Bush and Secretary of State Condoleezza Rice walk towards the Marine One helicopter on the South Lawn of the White House in Washington, Friday, Oct. 31, 2008. (AP Photo/Charles Dharapak)

Outgoing Israeli Prime Minister Ehud Olmert, left, and US Secretary of State Condoleezza Rice, right, meet in Tel Aviv today. (AP Photo)

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I've learned never to predict in this business. But it is clear we're in a different situation now because Israel is going to elections.
- Condoleezza Rice

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Bush Won't See Mideast Deal During Term