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W Bank talks for Abbas and Olmert W Bank talks for Abbas and Olmert
(about 5 hours later)
Israeli Prime Minister Ehud Olmert is to meet Palestinian President Mahmoud Abbas in Jericho in the West Bank.Israeli Prime Minister Ehud Olmert is to meet Palestinian President Mahmoud Abbas in Jericho in the West Bank.
The talks will be the highest level meeting between the two sides in a Palestinian city for some years. It will be the highest level meeting between the two sides in a Palestinian city for some years.
Palestinian officials say they want to discuss "final status" issues of a Palestinian state such as borders, refugees and the status of Jerusalem.Palestinian officials say they want to discuss "final status" issues of a Palestinian state such as borders, refugees and the status of Jerusalem.
The Israelis say they want to focus more on broad principles ahead of a US-sponsored conference in November.The Israelis say they want to focus more on broad principles ahead of a US-sponsored conference in November.
Co-operation between the Israelis and the Fatah administration of Mr Abbas, centred on the West Bank, has improved since Hamas took control of the Gaza Strip in June.Co-operation between the Israelis and the Fatah administration of Mr Abbas, centred on the West Bank, has improved since Hamas took control of the Gaza Strip in June.
The takeover has left the Palestinian territories split between the two rival factions.The takeover has left the Palestinian territories split between the two rival factions.
Israel has been trying to bolster Mr Abbas's position, freeing some Palestinian prisoners and releasing frozen Palestinian tax revenues.Israel has been trying to bolster Mr Abbas's position, freeing some Palestinian prisoners and releasing frozen Palestinian tax revenues.
Several hundred gunmen of the Fatah-linked al-Aqsa Martyrs Brigades have taken advantage of an Israeli offer of amnesty and have handed in their weapons to Palestinian authorities and renounced violence, Associated Press news agency said. Several hundred gunmen of the Fatah-linked al-Aqsa Martyrs' Brigades have taken advantage of an Israeli offer of amnesty and have handed in their weapons to Palestinian authorities and renounced violence, Associated Press news agency said.
Checkpoints issueCheckpoints issue
While both sides agree that Monday's talks will centre on a future Palestinian state, the Palestinians are much more specific that they want agreement on the "final status" issues.While both sides agree that Monday's talks will centre on a future Palestinian state, the Palestinians are much more specific that they want agreement on the "final status" issues.
These are the borders of a future Palestinian state, the status of Jerusalem as its capital and the fate of Palestinian refugees.These are the borders of a future Palestinian state, the status of Jerusalem as its capital and the fate of Palestinian refugees.
Palestinians want fewer Israeli checkpoints on the West BankIsraeli foreign ministry spokesman Mark Regev was more cautious about the agenda, saying agreement on broad principles was more important.Palestinians want fewer Israeli checkpoints on the West BankIsraeli foreign ministry spokesman Mark Regev was more cautious about the agenda, saying agreement on broad principles was more important.
"If you discuss the details, you expose the differences, while the idea is to discuss the principles which we can all agree on," he told the French news agency AFP."If you discuss the details, you expose the differences, while the idea is to discuss the principles which we can all agree on," he told the French news agency AFP.
"Israel has accepted that there will be a viable, contiguous Palestinian state," he said."Israel has accepted that there will be a viable, contiguous Palestinian state," he said.
The Palestinians also want to push the Israelis on smaller measures such as reducing military checkpoints in the West Bank, Palestinian officials said.The Palestinians also want to push the Israelis on smaller measures such as reducing military checkpoints in the West Bank, Palestinian officials said.
The discussions are meant to prepare the way for a Middle East conference that US President George W Bush has called for later in the year.The discussions are meant to prepare the way for a Middle East conference that US President George W Bush has called for later in the year.
A dramatic breakthrough does not seem to be imminent, says the BBC's Tim Franks in Jerusalem.A dramatic breakthrough does not seem to be imminent, says the BBC's Tim Franks in Jerusalem.
There is immense caution and suspicion on both sides and neither leader appears to be in a strong position, says our correspondent.There is immense caution and suspicion on both sides and neither leader appears to be in a strong position, says our correspondent.
Mr Olmert's popularity has plummeted since an inconclusive war in Lebanon last year that was intended to smash Hezbollah militants.Mr Olmert's popularity has plummeted since an inconclusive war in Lebanon last year that was intended to smash Hezbollah militants.
And it is not clear whether Mr Abbas can bring Hamas, which refuses to recognise the Israeli state, in on any deal.And it is not clear whether Mr Abbas can bring Hamas, which refuses to recognise the Israeli state, in on any deal.