By KUNA
Gaza : Palestinian President Mahmoud Abbas and Israeli Prime Minister Ehud Olmert agreed at their Monday’s meeting held in Jerusalem on pushing the peace process forward to achieve a settlement by the end of 2008, a senior official said on Tuesday.
Speaking to Voice of Palestine Radio, Chief Palestinian negotiator Dr. Saeb Erekat said Abbas asserted, during the meeting, importance of restoring credibility to the Middle East peace process through stopping establishment of Israeli settlements in Gaza Strip and the West Bank.
He said the Palestinian National Authority is waiting for a decision by the tripartite committee, which comprises the United States, Palestine and Israel, regarding commitment of implementing the first phase of the “road map.” The US representative in the commission, William Fraser, is scheduled to visit Israel and several areas in the Palestinian territories, next week, to oversee both sides’ commitment to terms of the peace process and the road map.
On a separate meeting that Abbas held with the US General Consul General in Jerusalem, Jack Wallis, yesterday, Erekat said they discussed outcomes of Abbas’ meeting with Olmert as well as the president’s private visit to Washington, due on April 24.
The radio also said the Palestinian president sent letters to Egyptian President Hosni Mubarak, Jordanian Monarch Kind Abdullah II along with the US administration officials to discuss topics that impede the progress of the Israeli-Palestinian negotiations.
The Palestinian president addressed in his letter his great concerns at ongoing construction of the Israeli settlements on Palestinian territories, that would scuttle efforts to reach an agreement and undermine the peace process.