The New Nation - Internet Edition

AFP, Jerusalem

Hardened by years of bloodshed and embittered by past failures, Israel and the Palestinians head to a key US peace meeting cautiously hoping to narrow their ever-yawning gaps at last. US President George W. Bush has pledged that the conference in Annapolis outside Washington on November 27 will provide international support for the two sides to restart talks after a seven-year freeze marred by deadly violence. But chances of the conference -- which is taking place 60 years after the UN voted to partition British-mandate Palestine on November 29, 1947 -- are far from certain although it is likely to see Israel sit down with Arab states including regional powerhouse Saudi Arabia for the first time.