By Xinhua
Jerusalme : Israeli Prime Minister Ehud Olmert and the Palestinian National Authority Chairman Mahmoud Abbas issued a joint statement at the end of their meeting Monday, which says “both leaders wish to contribute to the success of the upcoming international conference”.
The joint statement was issued following talks here between Olmert and Abbas. The talks were an effort to narrow differences over Palestinian statehood ahead of a US-sponsored conference in November.
Olmert and Abbas agreed to set up negotiating teams to work on key issues of disagreement ahead of a US-sponsored Mideast conference this autumn, according to the sources.
During the meeting with Abbas, Olmert said he would recommend that Israeli authorities release an unspecified number of Palestinian prisoners for the upcoming Ramadan holiday, according to media reports.
Palestinian Prime Minister Salam Fayyad also participated in the meeting.
A Gaza dispatch said: Sacked Hamas administration criticised the Abbas-Olmert meeting, terming it “obscure”.
“These frequent meetings can’t be understood and would be fruitless and have no meaning especially with Olmert’s regular threats to invade Gaza,” Ahmed Yousef, political advisor of Hamas Prime Minister Ismail Haneya, told reporters.
“These discussions are meant to weaken Hamas and the Palestinian resistance and only benefit the Israeli side,” added Yousef, whose movement took control of Gaza Strip by force in June after routing pro-Abbas forces.