MOSCOW (Reuters) – Russia plans to start up a nuclear reactor at Iran's Bushehr plant by the end of the year, the head of Russia's state nuclear corporation said on Thursday.

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Israeli Prime Minister Ehud Olmert has unveiled plans for a partial disengagement from Judea and Samaria to US Middle East Envoy Senator George Mitchell, as President Barack Obama steps up efforts to consolidate progress since the Annapolis peace summit in November 2007. The US senator, who's report was used as the foundation for the Good Friday peace agreement in my own country, was sent by Obama to the Middle East shortly after he took office. On Wednesday he met the Israeli Prime Minister to discuss the progress of the talks which were originally intended to bring about the establishment of a Palestinian state by the end of last year. Olmert had publicly stated following his deposition from the leadership of Kadima that he believed Israel must withdraw from almost all territory liberated during the Six Day War if the nation is to find peace with their neighbours. Shortly before the talks broke down, due to his ongoing political scandal and the looming Israeli elections, the Israeli Premier is said to have offered Abbas a deal. 60,000 Israelis would be evacuated from Judea and Samaria, and Arab neighbourhoods in east Jerusalem would be transferred to the Palestinian Authority. Israel would keep some areas in east Jerusalem in return for land in the south of Israel, which would be used for a land bridge between Gaza and the West Bank. Control over the holy sites would be transferred to an international authority. The revelations have caused consternation in the political arena, with former Prime Minister Binyamin Netanyahu promising to keep Jerusalem united under his leadership, and Kadima leader Tzipi Livni publicly distancing herself from Olmert's stance.

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