Olmert says not sure of reaching peace deal

HELD AL QUDS: Israel may not reach a peace agreement with the Palestinians, but maintaining the status quo was dangerous, Prime Minister Ehud Olmert said on Monday.
"I'm not sure we can reach an agreement and I'm not sure we can reach its implementation," a senior government official quoted Olmert as telling parliament's foreign affairs and defence committee.
"But I will be committing a sin to my duty if I didn't try," he said, as negotiations opened between the two sides on the core issues at the heart of their decades-long conflict.
"The opposition and the head of the opposition want to maintain the status quo at any price," he said. "I say this is dangerous, adventurous and irresponsible.
His comments come after US President George W. Bush predicted an Israeli-Palestinian peace treaty could be signed by the end of his term in January 2009.