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Palestinian President Mahmoud Abbas meeting with Prime Minister Ehud Olmert last week in Jerusalem. (GPO) Last update - 22:13 13/04/2008 PA official: Olmert won't commit to Cairo proposal for Gaza truce By News Agencies Tags: PA, Ehud Olmert, Abbas  Prime Minister Ehud Olmert has refused to commit to an Egyptian initiative for an unofficial cease-fire in the Gaza Strip, Palestinian negotiator Saeb Erekat said following unexpected talks between the prime minister and Palestian President Mahmoud Abbas on Sunday in Jerusalem. Olmert and Abbas got together for surprise talks in Jerusalem on Sunday, just days before the Palestinian leader was scheduled to set off for Washington to meet U.S. officials. Erekat said Abbas asked Olmert to agree to the Egyptian proposa; to arrange an unofficial truce, but that Olmert would not make any commitments on the matter. Israel refuses to deal with Hamas. Advertisement An Israeli official said Abbas and Olmert - who met just a week ago - would coordinate peace moves before Abbas' trip. He would not elaborate on what that meant, and spoke on condition of anonymity because the meeting's agenda was confidential. Palestinian officials would not say why the two men were meeting again so soon, but said the unexpected get-together reflected scheduling problems, not a crisis. Generally their talks are announced days in advance, but Sunday's meeting at Olmert's residence in Jerusalem was confirmed only hours before it started. U.S. mediators have urged Abbas and Olmert to meet twice a month, in addition to talks between their negotiating teams. The White House has invited Abbas to Washington to try to give Mideast peace talks a boost. Abbas is due to meet with U.S. President George W. Bush on April 23. Last week, the two leaders met for the first time since February 19. Abbas suspended the talks last month to protest an operation of the Israel Defense Forces ground forces in Gaza. Israel and the Palestinians renewed negotiations in November at a U.S.-hosted conference in Annapolis, Maryland, ending a seven-year impasse. But the talks have been troubled by Palestinian militant attacks, by ongoing Israeli construction and military operations in the West Bank, and by the fact that Islamic Hamas militants rule Gaza, where Abbas has no control. The U.S. has been pressuring Israel to ease travel restrictions in the West Bank and give more authority to Palestinian security forces there, so Abbas can point to concrete benefits from peacemaking. Ahead of the Abbas-Olmert meeting, Israel announced some minor gestures toward West Bank Palestinians. Work began Sunday on a new terminal meant to replace an older checkpoint near the city of Nablus, a change that will cut down the time it takes Palestinians to get through, Israeli defense officials said. The Defense Ministry also raised the number of Palestinian workers permitted to enter Israel to 1,500 from 1,000, issuing 5,000 new work permits, and will now allow the Palestinians to open 27 new police stations in territory officially under Israeli security control, they said. The Palestinians have demanded more sweeping moves, saying the Israeli restrictions humiliate them and cripple their economy. Israel says its security measures are vital to prevent Palestinian attacks and that Abbas' security forces are not yet ready to take control. Related articles: Bush urges clear outline for a Palestinian state Olmert, Abbas set to meet in Jerusalem, discuss Gaza crisis Sunday Olmert, Abbas talks hit snag on refugee problem Bookmark to del.icio.us   Meeting Carter Noam Shalit: The fact that Carter isn't pro-Israel may be beneficial. Family pressure Shin Bet admits using relatives to pressure jailed Palestinians.   1.   Our unquestionable rights on the Land of Israel. 15:07  |  Jean Van Daem 13/04/08   2.   Waste Of Time. 15:34  |  Cool B 13/04/08   3.   The Temple Mount 15:55  |  Shimon Cleopas 13/04/08   4.   Waste of time! 16:56  |  lakshmi 13/04/08   5.   Nothing will come out of it. all chezbaat! 17:07  |  Hamdi 13/04/08   6.   its getting to be a habit ! crazy meetings about 17:13  |  v hardman 13/04/08   7.   no official word on why 17:20  |  Akiva P 13/04/08   8.   Time for Abbas to go - and take Erekat with him! 17:40  |  Palestinian Brit 13/04/08   9.   Meeting simply fulfilling obligation to move forward... 18:25  |  Smadar 13/04/08   10.   Stop whining about the checkpoints 18:42  |  Conroy 13/04/08   11.   Breakthrough Advise re Jerusalem -1 18:43  |  Shimon Cleopas 13/04/08   12.   Breakthrough advise re Jerusalem - 2 18:45  |  Shimon Cleopas 13/04/08   13.   Oldmerd wants to give Abbas the keys to Jerusalem! 19:14  |  Wise Saba 13/04/08   14.   Pals say with straight face they want two states+right of return 20:07  |  Sam 13/04/08   15.   TO Palestinian Brit , sam & Arabs 20:22  |  Puzzled Students 13/04/08   16.   Olmert: This too should be part of negotiations 20:30  |  John 13/04/08   17.   After negotion fails, Israel will have no more 20:31  |  Bobby 13/04/08   18.   A truce is not an option for Israel 21:12  |  Natallie Durson 13/04/08   19.   TO SAM, Bobby, Palestinian Brit 21:44  |  John 13/04/08   20.   Re Natallie #18 22:13  |  Esther 13/04/08   21.   to # 11 + 12. LOL, please add the following : 22:34  |  Simon Mohammed 13/04/08   22.   pals are humiliated by their inept leaders and failures not by us 22:53  |  ralph 13/04/08   23.   John-I said there can`t be PEACE with Arab demand for ROR 23:00  |  Sam 13/04/08   24.   You are 100% correct ND 18. Truce is not an option 23:07  |  Man deVoshkes 13/04/08   25.   #10 OK, tell me then 23:43  |  Outsider 13/04/08   26.   who knows where a truce might lead? 23:58  |  Mark Lincoln 13/04/08   27.   Shock and Awe 00:28  |  Shimon Cleopas 14/04/08   28.   #10 Outsider, here`s the inside track 04:03  |  Conroy 14/04/08   29.   #1 A splendid history lesson, Jean Van Daem 08:13  |  Johnboy 14/04/08   30.   Missing the last chance 14:48  |  David 14/04/08

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