Diplomats, politicians and - oh, no - press (Baltimore Sun)

[GreatAmerican]

<p>Olmert, Abbas agree to aim for comprehensive settlement by end of next year</p>

<p>[More</a> talks pledged – baltimoresun.com](<a href=“http://www.baltimoresun.com/news/world/bal-te.summit28nov28,0,778481.story?coll=bal_tab01_layout]More”>http://www.baltimoresun.com/news/world/bal-te.summit28nov28,0,778481.story?coll=bal_tab01_layout)</p>

<p>

The leaders of Israel and the Palestinian Authority agreed yesterday at a U.S.-sponsored conference in Annapolis to begin “vigorous, ongoing and continuous” negotiations to try to reach a comprehensive peace settlement by the end of next year.</p>

<p>President Bush read a joint agreement by the two sides at the start of a daylong gathering at the U.S. Naval Academy that illustrated both the promise and pitfalls that lie ahead. Middle East analysts said the agreement fell short of a breakthrough, and Bush emphasized that the pact was only a beginning to further negotiations…

</p>

[GreatAmerican]

<p>Curious Annapolitans view rallies, protests, big Condoleezza head</p>

<p>[For</a> many, talks just a sideshow – baltimoresun.com](<a href=“http://www.baltimoresun.com/news/world/bal-te.to.abouttown28nov28,0,6337740.story?coll=bal_tab01_layout]For”>http://www.baltimoresun.com/news/world/bal-te.to.abouttown28nov28,0,6337740.story?coll=bal_tab01_layout)</p>

<p>

“I think everyone’s still in bed,” sighed Adee Telem as she gazed across the deserted St. John’s campus. Telem works for One Voice, an Israeli-Palestinian reconciliation group; early yesterday she was hoping to round up some local idealists in time for the midday rallies outside the Naval Academy, where the peace talks were being held.</p>

<p>The 26-year-old Owings Mills native and her colleagues figured that St. John’s College was a prime place to look, even through the few students stirring there were plugged into iPods and slurping blearily from cups of coffee…

</p>

[GreatAmerican]

<p>Orderly pickets, sidelined Mids make for few disruptions outdoors</p>

<p>[Peaceful</a> demonstrations – baltimoresun.com](<a href=“http://www.baltimoresun.com/news/world/bal-te.ar.outside28nov28,0,6354889.story?coll=bal_tab01_layout]Peaceful”>http://www.baltimoresun.com/news/world/bal-te.ar.outside28nov28,0,6354889.story?coll=bal_tab01_layout)</p>

<p>

They sang and danced to the strumming of a guitar. Some demonstrators gripped signs that they had carried on buses and planes from Texas, Pennsylvania and New York.</p>

<p>In intimate conversations, they embraced their ideological allies. And with impassioned speech that turned to shouts, they challenged their foes.</p>

<p>They waved flags for Israel, for America and for peace…

</p>

[GreatAmerican]

<p>[More</a> than 100 demonstrate outside academy - Navy News, opinions, editorials, news from Iraq, photos, reports - Navy Times](<a href=“http://www.navytimes.com/news/2007/11/ap_demonstrate_071128/]More”>http://www.navytimes.com/news/2007/11/ap_demonstrate_071128/)</p>

<p>

More than 100 activists demonstrated outside the U.S. Naval Academy gates, offering their very public take on the Israeli-Palestinian dispute as diplomats met inside to chart a course toward peace.</p>

<p>The rallies Tuesday ran the gamut from a costumed protester mocking Secretary of State Condoleezza Rice to a peace activist who was hopeful the talks would foster further peace negotiations such as those outlined by President Bush, Israeli Prime Minister Ehud Olmert and Palestinian President Mahmoud Abbas…

</p>

[GreatAmerican]

<p>[url=<a href=“Urlacher: Briggs’ day off ‘not a big deal’ – Baltimore Sun”>http://www.baltimoresun.com/news/local/annearundel/bal-mideast-pg,0,5991760.photogallery]baltimoresun.com[/url</a>]</p>

[JamTex]

<p>It was fine. It wasn’t the end of the world.</p>

<p>Kind of funny to read some of the earlier posts, now, in the context of how it really went down.</p>

<p>As usual, the rhetoric and anticipation exceeded the reality.</p>