Israeli Prime Minister Ehud Olmert and Palestinian president Mahmud Abbas held a new round of talks on Wednesday to try to bridge differences ahead of a US-sponsored Middle East peace summit. The two leaders met one-on-one at Olmert's Jerusalem residence for their fourth encounter in less than two months.
"The prime minister looks forward to another chance for constructive dialogue with the Palestinian leader and he will make every effort to achieve progress in the time period before the upcoming international meeting," said David Baker, an Israeli government spokesman.
According to AFP, the two sides remain far apart over what kind of document to draw up ahead of the Middle East conference, expected to take place in Annapolis, Maryland in November. The Palestinians want a detailed agreement and an implementation timeframe on the crucial issues of the Israeli-Palestinian conflict -- borders, refugees and the status of Jerusalem.
The Israelis favour some kind of a vague document.
"The working teams will follow up on the progress made during the previous meetings between Olmert and Abbas and will discuss the fundamental issues necessary for reaching the goal of a two-state solution," an senior Israeli offical told AFP. "The document will spell out the perceptions and understandings as seen together by both sides," he said.
Palestinian chief negotiator Saeb Erekat said that the teams' joint work "will focus on reaching an agreement on the core issues" that will constitute "the substance for the conference."
