But if there is no additional Palestinian statelet or reservation then Olmert is worried we could have a single secular regime capable of containing diverse nationalities under one secular government. Perhaps that is a good thing and of course may help us move away from superstition and extremist beliefs of all kinds.
As Olmert has said, "If the day comes when the two-state solution collapses, and we face a South African-style struggle for equal voting rights, then, as soon as that happens, the State of Israel is finished." Of course some sort of peaceful form of coexistence between Palestinians and the settlers should be possible. Certainly it is in everyone's long term interests.
And once Israel gives up resisting the right of return this will lay the basis for real peace. Perhaps realizing that Israel will soon be a Palestinian majority nation anyway a real rapprochement may be possible and the return of refugees would be seen in a different, less threatening light.
Instead of supporting the perpetuation of a religious state, Israel, we should be escorting Israel/Palestine into a future where liberty and liberation are available to all parties precisely because petty nationalsms and religious extremism are overcome.
He warned of a "South African-style struggle" which Israel would lose if a Palestinian state was not established.
Mr Olmert was returning from the Annapolis conference in the US where he and Palestinian leader Mahmoud Abbas pledged to launch formal peace talks.
The two leaders set a goal of reaching a peace deal with US support in 2008.
| | If the two-state solution collapses, and we face a South African-style struggle for equal voting rights, then the State of Israel is finished Ehud Olmert |
Mr Olmert said it was not the first time he had articulated his fears about the demographic threat to Israel as a Jewish state from a faster growing Palestinian population.
He made similar comments in 2003 when justifying the failed strategy of unilateral withdrawals from Israeli-occupied land which holds large Palestinian populations.
"If the day comes when the two-state solution collapses, and we face a South African-style struggle for equal voting rights, then, as soon as that happens, the State of Israel is finished," Mr Olmert is quoted saying in Haaretz newspaper.
New monitor
After the ceremonies at Annapolis and the White House, the US appointed former Nato commander Gen James Jones as its new Middle East envoy.
| | KEY ISSUES |
"Building security in the Middle East is the surest path to making peace in the Middle East," US Secretary of State Condoleezza Rice said of his appointment.
"Gen Jones is the best individual to lead our efforts in this essential endeavour."
Mr Bush promised to use American power "to help you as you come up with the necessary decisions to lay out a Palestinian state that will live side-by-side in peace with Israel".
According to the agreement, the Israeli and Palestinian leaders will meet every other week and teams of negotiators led by a joint steering committee will meet on 12 December.
| | HAVE YOUR SAY Ignoring Hamas and the Iranian regime could increase their popularity in the Arab world Shahram, Isfahan |
There have been angry protests in the Gaza Strip, controlled by Hamas, and the West Bank since the summit.
Expectations had been low as representatives of more than 40 countries and international agencies gathered in Annapolis ahead of Tuesday's conference.
But in a joint statement concluded with only minutes to spare before the conference formally opened, the two sides agreed to launch negotiations for a treaty "resolving all outstanding issues, including all core issues without exception".
Both sides have said those "core issues" will include the thorny so-called "final-status issues" - the future of Jerusalem, borders, water, refugees and settlements - which have scuppered previous attempts at a peace deal.
