BBC are suggesting that our Tone maybe thinks it's one of his marvellous breakthroughs that Olmert [is] ready for talks with Abbas after having had discussions with our international statesman Prime Minister today. The big thing is that Olmert will not set any preconditions, such as the release of the soldier taken hostage in June by Palestinians.

I wonder if Abbas might think differently. Perhaps he would like to see the release of at least some of the dozens of his parliamentary colleagues, or an end to attempts to assassinate some of those that aren't languishing in Israeli jails. Time will tell. Maybe Abbas will be the bigger man. It's got to start somewhere.

Perhaps Tony enjoyed the irony of meeting to discuss "full implementation of [UN Security Council resolution] 1701" in a city that Israel occupies in defiance of other UN resolutions?