Abbas hopes for peace 'in a year'

BBC

The Palestinian President, Mahmoud Abbas, has said he hopes to reach a comprehensive peace deal with Israel's government "within one year".

Mr Abbas also told Israel's Maariv newspaper that US President George W Bush wanted to see a Middle East peace accord before he leaves office in 2009.

A "final formula" would have to be agreed and a timetable set, he added.

The announcement came after a report in another Israeli newspaper outlined the terms of the possible peace offer.

Haaretz said on Wednesday that Israel was ready to offer the Palestinians a state in 90% of the West Bank and Gaza Strip.

The proposal would also include a tunnel to link the two Palestinian territories, and a land-swap that would allow major Jewish settlement blocs in the West Bank to become part of Israel..........