Last update - 00:00 22/10/2006
PMO: Olmert, Abbas agree to continue talks on meeting
By Reuters
Prime Minister Ehud Olmert called Palestinian Authority Chairman Mahmoud Abbas on Sunday and agreed that their officials would continue talks to prepare for a meeting between them, Olmert's office said.
The United States has urged both sides to renew peace talks, stalled since 2003 due to violence. Recent efforts to arrange the long-awaited summit have been deadlocked.
Israel demands the release of Israel Defense Forces soldier Gilad Shalit, held captive by militants in Gaza since a cross-border raid in June. Abbas, who has been working to try to secure his freedom, wants Israel to first promise to free hundreds of Palestinian prisoners.
During their phone call, the Israeli leader gave Abbas his good wishes to mark the end of Ramadan, Olmert's office said in a statement.