Israeli Prime Minister Ehud Olmert and Palestinian President Mahmoud Abbas will try to draw up an initial document of understandings to present to Washington next month, Israeli media reported on Sunday.
According to Reuters, Olmert and Abbas meet again in Jerusalem on Sunday to with the aim of achieving a limited peace agreement before President George Bush leaves office in January.
Mark Regev, a spokesman for Olmert, confirmed the Israeli leader was pressing to reach a deal, but not necessarily by as soon as next month. "We will continue all our efforts to reach an historic joint Palestinian-Israeli agreement," Regev said. "I'm not aware of a time limit."
Israel Radio said the two leaders may aim to take a limited deal to Washington by next month so Bush can declare that an agreement in principle has been reached. The Tel Aviv-based Haaretz newspaper reported Olmert was interested in reaching a deal with the Palestinians before he steps down next month.
