Palestinian President Mahmoud Abbas and Israeli Prime Minister Ehud Olmert had an unscheduled meeting a day before Abbas was leaving on a trip that takes him to the US later this month.
The moderate Palestinian leader has talks scheduled for April 23 with US President George W. Bush. He was scheduled to leave yesterday for Jordan, the first leg of his trip.
Sunday was the last opportunity for Abbas to meet Olmert, though the two talked last week.
The intention appeared to be to keep the meeting at Olmert’s official residence a secret. In the past, their frequent sessions have been announced well in advance and news photographers are granted some access. Sunday’s meeting was confirmed only hours before it took place and then only after the Associated Press queried officials.
Palestinian negotiator Saeb Erekat said Abbas asked Olmert to agree to an Egyptian initiative to arrange an unofficial ceasefire in Gaza, but Olmert gave no commitment. Israel refuses to deal with Hamas. Erekat said the meeting took place on Sunday because Abbas was leaving yesterday on the trip that will take him to the US.
Months of meetings at various levels have failed to produce noticeable progress toward a peace deal.
Israel and the Palestinians renewed negotiations in November at a US-hosted conference in Annapolis, Maryland, ending a seven-year impasse. The talks have been troubled by Palestinian militant attacks, by ongoing Israeli construction and military operations in the West Bank and by the fact that Islamic Hamas militants rule Gaza. Abbas controls only the West Bank.
On Sunday an explosion in a Gaza house killed three people and wounded seven, Palestinian officials said. Residents said it was caused by explosives that went off prematurely.
Later on Sunday, a Palestinian was wounded in an Israeli airstrike on a house in Gaza City, Palestinians and the Israeli military said.
Last week, militants attacked the Israeli border terminal that pipes the only fuel that reaches Gaza, killing two workers. Israel immediately shut down the terminal and launched raids that have killed 16 people since, including at least six civilians.
Palestinians have warned of a looming fuel shortage and the director of the territory’s only power plant has said it would have to be shut down this week because its fuel would run out.
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