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Photo: Amos Ben Gershon, GPO
Prime Minister Ehud Olmert with British Prime Minister Tony Blair
Photo: Amos Ben Gershon, GPO
Palestinian President Mahmoud Abbas. Wants to talk
Photo: AP

Olmert: I want to meet Abbas soon

At joint press conference with British PM Blair, Olmert says he's been in touch with Palestinian President Abbas, declares special committee on issue of prisoners to be set up soon, in bid to move forward in talks

Prime Minister Ehud Olmert said Monday that he planned to set up a committee with the Palestinians in the coming days to discuss the issue of prisoners, which is seen as key to making progress on peace.

 

"In the coming days we intend to set up a joint committee with the Palestinians to discuss the issue of prisoners on the basis to make it possible to move forward," Olmert said.

 

Speaking at a joint conference with British Prime Minister Tony Blair, who is currently visiting Israel, the Israeli prime minister said that he has been holding "direct contacts" with Palestinian President Mahmoud Abbas.

 

"We will resolve many problems, but not all problems can be resolved at the pace we would like them to. The prisoners issue is complex, among other things because there is a kidnapped soldier in Gaza that has not been freed yet. I appreciate the efforts put forth by the international community," Olmert stated.

 

Referring to the question of Fatah leader Marwan Barghouti's release, Olmert said that no discussion on the release of a specific prisoner had taken place.

 

Asked to comment on Abbas' call for a meeting with him, Olmert said that he is very interested in meeting with the president. "There's no question that the two sides are working to make this happen soon," he added.

 

Olmert also stated Israel wants to make peace with any Arab country, including Syria, and that he hopes the conditions will permit such an agreement to materialize in the future.

 

Olmert stressed that alongside the Syrian calls for peace in recent interviews, "We also see Syria's behavior in matters that are critical to Israel's existence: The support for Hizbullah, the attempts to destabilize the Lebanese government, the support for the extremist Hamas – the support for terrorist acts."

 

However, the Israeli PM added, "We hope that a convenient foundation for talks with Syria will be formed."

 

News agencies contributed to the report

 


פרסום ראשון: 12.18.06, 20:35
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