Middle East News

Israelis, Palestinians to set up steering committee (Extra)

Nov 27, 2007, 16:34 GMT

Annapolis, Maryland - The Israelis and Palestinians have agreed to set up a steering committee to oversee peace negotiations launched at a Middle East peace conference hosted by US President George W Bush Tuesday in Annapolis, Maryland.

The steering committee will meet for the first time December 12 as part of an agreement reached between Israeli Prime Minister Ehud Olmert and Palestinian President Mahmoud Abbas prior to the summit, Bush said.

Bush announced the agreement before giving his keynote address.

'We agree to engage in vigorous, ongoing and continuous negotiations and shall make every effort to conclude an agreement before the end of 2008,' Bush said, reading the agreement between Olmert and Abbas.