US: Israel's prime minister, Ehud Olmert, has called on the United States Congress to back his plan to redraw unilaterally Israel's border with the Palestinian Authority, following a cautious endorsement from President Bush.
Addressing a joint session of Congress, Mr Olmert said Israel was a willing partner for peace with the Palestinians but said that Hamas could never be a partner.
"We cannot wait for the Palestinians forever. Our deepest wish is to build a better future for our region, hand in hand with a Palestinian partner, but if not, we will move forward, but not alone," he said.
After a meeting with Mr Olmert, Mr Bush described as "bold" the Israeli prime minister's plan for unilateral withdrawal from parts of the West Bank without Palestinian agreement.
The president said that the Israeli plan, which would leave large Jewish settlements in the West Bank, could lead to a two-state solution if negotiations were impossible.
"While any final status agreement will be only achieved on the basis of mutually agreed changes, and no party should prejudice the outcome of negotiations on a final status agreement, the prime minister's ideas could be an important step toward the peace we both support," Mr Bush said.
Recognition of unilaterally declared borders would put Washington at odds with the European Union, which made its position clear in June 2004.
"The EU will not recognise any change to the pre-1967 borders other than those arrived at by agreement between the parties," EU leaders said in a joint statement in Brussels.
Mr Olmert reaffirmed his government's refusal to negotiate with Hamas before the Palestinian group renounces violence and recognises the state of Israel.
He said he extended a hand of friendship towards Palestinian Authority president Mahmoud Abbas, adding that an agreed solution was possible.
"Should we realise that the bilateral track with the Palestinians is of no consequence, should the Palestinians ignore our outstretched hand for peace, Israel will seek other alternatives to promote our future and the prospects of hope in the Middle East.
"At that juncture, the time for realignment will occur," the prime minister said.
Mr Olmert said Israel, which has sought to cut off the flow of funds to the Hamas-led Palestinian government, would seek to ensure that the humanitarian needs of the Palestinian people are met.
He said Israel would negotiate with the Palestinian Authority if it "renounces terrorism, dismantles its terrorist infrastructure, accepts previous agreements and recognises Israel's right to exist".