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Paris: A deal on Palestinian statehood by the end of next year is realistic but a fully functioning state will take longer, Middle East envoy Tony Blair said in an interview on Thursday.
Israeli Prime Minister Ehud Olmert and Palestinian President Mahmoud Abbas agreed in Annapolis, Maryland last week to try to reach a peace treaty creating a Palestinian state by the end of 2008, although doubts remain over the plan's viability.
"I think a negotiated settlement is possible in 2008," Blair told France 24 television. But he added: "It will take some time for that negotiated settlement to be put in place fully."
The head of the Arab League yesterday urged the world community to exceed a $5.8 billion (Dh21.29billion) aid target sought by Palestinian President Mahmoud Abbas for his people.
"I think this sum - even more than that - must be given to the Palestinians to rebuild their society," Arab League Secretary-General Amr Mousa told reporters in Paris. Dozens of countries were expected to send envoys to a high-level international donors conference for the Palestinians in Paris on December 17.
Israel confirmed on Friday that the United States asked it to explain a plan to build new homes on occupied land in the Jerusalem area.
A senior aide to Palestinian President Mahmoud Abbas demanded that US President George W. Bush's administration force Israel to abide by an agreement to halt all Jewish colony activity.
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