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Olmert hosts Abbas in fresh talks Olmert hosts Abbas in fresh talks
(about 4 hours later)
The Israeli and Palestinian leaders are holding talks in Jerusalem, the latest in a series to bolster Mahmoud Abbas's Palestinian government. The Israeli and Palestinian leaders have held talks in Jerusalem, the latest in a series to bolster Mahmoud Abbas's Palestinian government.
The meetings are at Prime Minister Ehud Olmert's office, involving teams of negotiators before one-on-one talks. The meetings were at Prime Minister Ehud Olmert's office, involving teams of negotiators before one-on-one talks.
They will discuss a document of principles ahead of a peace conference in the US in November, officials said. The leaders did not issue statements after the talks, meant to pave the way for an international peace conference.
Israel has backed Mr Abbas since his Islamist rivals Hamas seized control of Gaza in June, but made few concessions.Israel has backed Mr Abbas since his Islamist rivals Hamas seized control of Gaza in June, but made few concessions.
Israeli sources say understandings discussed at Tuesday's meeting will be kept vague, but Mr Abbas has urged they deal with substantive issues such as Israeli troop pull-backs in the West Bank and marking out the political horizon. Israeli sources told the BBC Tuesday's meeting discussed security issues which could lead to the lifting of some travel restrictions in the Israeli-occupied West Bank and addressed the issue of arms smuggling into Gaza from Egypt.
On Monday, he said the Washington conference would be a "waste of time" if it stuck to a "declaration of principles". Earlier Israeli officials said a declaration of principles and understandings discussed at Tuesday's meeting would be kept vague, but Mr Abbas has urged they deal with substantive issues.
On Monday, he said the an international peace conference hosted by the US, schedule to take place in November, would be a "waste of time" if it stuck to a "declaration of principles".
Israel has previously ruled out discussing key issues such as the status of Jerusalem, Palestinian refugees and final borders before the conference.Israel has previously ruled out discussing key issues such as the status of Jerusalem, Palestinian refugees and final borders before the conference.
An official in Mr Olmert's office said the meeting would be to discuss the development of Palestinian governing institutions and bolstering Mr Abbas's government "as well as how both people, Israel and the Palestinians, can live side-by-side". Israeli officials had said Mr Olmert had planned to express his appreciation for the Palestinian security forces, which rescued an Israeli army officer who accidentally entered the West Bank town of Jenin on Monday.
Officials also said Mr Olmert planned to express his appreciation for the Palestinian security forces, which rescued an Israeli army officer who accidentally entered the West Bank town of Jenin on Monday.
After Hamas's victory in Gaza over Mr Abbas's Fatah movement, the president dismissed the elected Hamas-led government and formed a new administration in the West Bank.After Hamas's victory in Gaza over Mr Abbas's Fatah movement, the president dismissed the elected Hamas-led government and formed a new administration in the West Bank.