Olmert, Abbas to hold second summit

Israeli Prime Minister Ehud Olmert and Palestinian President Mahmoud Abbas will meet on Sunday for their second summit in a month…

Israeli Prime Minister Ehud Olmert and Palestinian President Mahmoud Abbas will meet on Sunday for their second summit in a month, Israeli media reported today.

Palestinian negotiator Saeb Erekat said it was possible the meeting would take place, but some details still had to be worked out between the sides.

Mr Olmert's spokeswoman, Miri Eisin, would not confirm the meeting, saying only that plans had yet to be finalised.

Mr Olmert's aides have said the summit meeting will focus on humanitarian issues, and that no significant political developments are expected. The two leaders met on February 19th along with US Secretary of State Condoleezza Rice.

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That summit was overshadowed by Mr Abbas' agreement to form a national unity government with the Islamic militant group Hamas, which now heads the Palestinian government and is boycotted by the West. It ended with no discernible results.

The power sharing deal between Hamas and Mr Abbas' more moderate Fatah movement falls short of international demands that the government recognise Israel, accept previous peace deals and renounce violence.

The deal only says the government will "respect" past peace agreements.

AP