By NNN-KUNA
Gaza : Palestinian President Mahmoud Abbas is seeking in his meeting with Israeli Premier Ehud Olmert in Jerusalem Monday a pledge from the latter to start drafting a settlement agreement based on a Palestinian proposal on principles of acknowledgement of a State of Palestine.
According to Radio Palestine, the Palestinian side is hoping to bridge differences with Israel concerning the nature of the Palestinian State to be declared ahead of the autumn Middle East forum the US is sponsoring.
Palestinian Liberation Organisation Chief Negotiator Saeb Erekat told the radio station the fall meetings should also result in implementation of US proposals and visions of two co-existing states in the Palestinian territories as well as implementation of international resolutions on the Palestinian issue.
Abbas and Olmert last met Aug 28 in Jerusalem and discussed issues including the POWs, Israeli military barriers in the West Bank, and measures promised by Israel to ease Palestinians’ lives that are yet to be realised.
Palestinian sources said Palestinian Prime Minister Salam Fayyad is expected to take part in the meeting for the first time.
US Secretary of State Condoleezza Rice is due on a visit to the region next week to discuss the fall forum but Israeli officials have said the visit is not likely to achieve much.