Israeli Prime Minister Ehud Olmert on Sunday sought to counter domestic criticism that he may be moving too quickly in talks with Palestinians ahead of a US-sponsored Middle East conference.
Speaking before the start of the weekly cabinet meeting, Olmert said that no agreements or deals had been reached in a series of one-on-one meetings with Palestinian president Mahmud Abbas over the past months.
"In the talks in recent months between me and the Palestinian president there were no agreements or deals," he said. "It was mainly brainstorming, a chance to present our views and the review the main issues and problems that form the basis for the negotitations that will lead to a two-state solution."
He also said that the international peace conference, expected to take place in the US in November, would not serve as a substitute to talks between Israelis and Palestinians.
"Toward the end of November an interntional meeting is planned to take place in Washinginton to back and support the diplomatic process," he said, adding that the conference "does not under any circumstances replace the direct negotiations between us and the Palestinians."
Any agreement reached between the two sides will depend on the application of the so-called Middle East roadmap, a peace blueprint that has made little progress since its launch in 2003.
"Any agreement will depend on the application of the roadmap -- not only adhering to its spirit and letter, but also the order of the steps."
The roadmap spells out several phases toward the creation of a Palestinian state, including the halt of attacks on Israel and a freeze of Israeli settlements in the occupied territories -- steps that neither side has adhered to.
Ahead of the November meeting, criticism has mounted in Israeli political circles -- including within Olmert's own coalition that includes both an ultra-nationalist and an ultra-Orthodox party -- that the premier could be moving too quickly in his talks with the Palestinians.
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