The former British prime minister, Tony Blair, has said he saw a sense of possibility in the Middle East in his first visit to the region as an international envoy.
However, Mr Blair cautioned against expecting any peace breakthrough soon.
The Quartet of peace brokers - the US, EU, UN and Russia - has asked him to present an initial plan in September for building ruling institutions for a future Palestinian state.
In his first public remarks since starting his mission yesterday, Mr Blair said he came 'to listen, to learn and to reflect' in preliminary talks with Israeli and Palestinian leaders.
Mr Blair held separate meetings with Israeli President Shimon Peres and Palestinian President Mahmoud Abbas, whose Fatah party lost control of Gaza to Hamas in fighting last month.
He is also due to meet the Israeli Prime Minister, Ehud Olmert.
Mr Peres said that Mr Blair faced one of the most responsible and demanding tasks of his career, but that he believed there was a 'serious window of opportunity to advance peace.
