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Olmert and Abbas meet for talks Olmert and Abbas 'make progress'
(about 8 hours later)
Israeli and Palestinian leaders have met in Jerusalem for a new round of talks - their third meeting in a month. Palestinian Authority President Mahmoud Abbas and Israeli PM Ehud Olmert have met in Jerusalem for a new round of talks - their third meeting in a month.
Officials said earlier that Palestinian Authority President Mahmoud Abbas would raise the issue of Jewish settlements and roadblocks in the West Bank. Officials said there was progress on the issues of the borders of a future Palestinian state and security arrangements in the West Bank.
These issues have been given prominence by US Secretary of State Condoleezza Rice during her visit to the region. US Secretary of State Condoleezza Rice has just ended a visit to the region.
Before seeing Mr Abbas, Ehud Olmert met Ms Rice - for the second time in 48 hours - though no details have emerged. Ms Rice said she still hoped for a peace deal before President George W Bush leaves office in January.
On Sunday, at a joint news conference with Mr Abbas in the West Bank city of Ramallah, Dr Rice described continued Israeli settlement activity there as "particularly problematic".
Israel insists that no new settlements are being built in the West Bank though existing ones are being expanded.
Ms Rice said she was still of the view that a peace deal could be reached before President Bush leaves office in January.
Mr Bush is visiting Israel later this month to take part in ceremonies marking the 60th anniversary of the founding of the Israeli state.Mr Bush is visiting Israel later this month to take part in ceremonies marking the 60th anniversary of the founding of the Israeli state.
The Palestinian-Israeli talks, launched at a Middle East conference hosted by Mr Bush in November, have yielded little visible progress so far. Palestinian-Israeli talks, launched at a Middle East conference hosted by Mr Bush in November, have yielded little visible progress so far.
Differences narrow
Mr Olmert told the Palestinian Authority president on Monday he understood the need for Palestinians to see improvements in their standard of living if a peace deal were to work, officials said.
They said the sides had exchanged maps on a future Palestinian state that may indicate a narrowing of differences.
"We have made significant progress on the two issues of outlining the borders of the future Palestinian state and the security arrangements between Israel and the Palestinian state," a senior Israeli official said.
Ms Rice, speaking on her way home from the region, said US embassy staff were to monitor the effect on the Palestinians of any removal of Israeli roadblocks in the West Bank.
The Palestinians say the presence of hundreds of roadblocks is crippling their economy.
The Israelis say they are designed to thwart potential suicide bombers.
On Sunday, at a joint news conference with Mr Abbas in the West Bank city of Ramallah, Ms Rice described continued Israeli settlement activity as "particularly problematic".
Israel insists that no new settlements are being built in the West Bank, although existing ones are being expanded.