Middle East: Can a solution be found?

Prime Minister Tony Blair has called for the creation of a viable Palestinian state as part of a negotiated settlement guaranteeing peace and security for Israel.

After meeting the Palestinian leader, Yasser Arafat, in London, Mr Blair said that both agreed that now was the time to reinvigorate the Middle East peace process.

Mr Blair rejected suggestions that the desire to restart the peace process had been motivated by last month's attacks on America. He said, "It is important in its own right".

Mr Arafat urged an immediate resumption of negotiations with Israel, repeating his call for an independent Palestinian state with Jerusalem as its capital that would exist alongside the Jewish state.

Israeli Government spokesman Avi Pazner told the BBC that the idea of a Palestinian state was "one of the options".

Can the current round of diplomatic talks contribute towards breaking the deadlock? Do you feel that peace remains a realistic prospect in the Middle East?

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