GAZA, 30 May 2007 — Palestinian President Mahmoud Abbas said yesterday he would meet Israeli Prime Minister Ehud Olmert next week, keeping alive a US-backed dialogue despite Hamas rocket attacks on Israel and Israeli air raids in Gaza.
At a news conference with the president of the European Parliament yesterday, Abbas proposed a new truce between Palestinian fighters and Israel, and said he would see Olmert on June 7.
Olmert’s office said a meeting was planned for next week but no specific date or location had been set.
Abbas, head of the Fatah faction that formed a unity government with Hamas two months ago, last met the Israeli leader on April 15 as part of US-brokered talks that were supposed to take place every two weeks.
The dialogue, which has focused on aspects of a future Palestinian state, has been delayed by Palestinian internal violence, Israeli-Palestinian fighting and Olmert’s uncertain political future following an inquiry critical of his handling of last year’s costly Lebanon war.
“They will be discussing a political horizon, meaning the composition of a future Palestinian state. They will not be discussing final status issues,” said Israeli government spokesman David Baker.
Israeli officials had said they expected the upcoming meeting to take place in the West Bank city of Jericho.
Abbas told a news conference with Pottering that he would take the deal to Israel once he wrested the Palestinian groups’ approval.
“All problems and difficulties can find a solution through negotiations,” he said. “We are ready for these negotiations, and we are ready for a truce between us and the Israelis. We are looking for a comprehensive solution with the Israelis.”
Abbas has been trying to broker a cease-fire between the fighters and Israel.
At the news conference Abbas said the truce that would initially cover Gaza would be extended within a month to the occupied West Bank.
Hamas has said any cease-fire must include an end to Israeli raids to arrest fighters in the West Bank. Israel has called such raids critical to foiling Palestinian attacks.
In fresh violence, Israeli soldiers crossed into the Gaza Strip and killed two Hamas men near the border, drawing a vow from the armed wing of the group to hit back. Several Palestinians were detained by the force for questioning, an Israeli Army spokesman said.
Three Islamic Jihad fighters were killed in an explosion in the central Gaza Strip yesterday, hospital officials said.
A Palestinian security source said it appeared the three militants were killed in when the explosives they were handling detonated accidentally.
