Jordanian Gathering To Bring Abbas, Olmert Together
Shaveta Bansal - All Headline News Staff Writer Ramallah, West Bank (AHN) - Israeli Prime Minister, Ehud Olmert and Palestinian President Mahmoud Abbas are expected to meet for the first time when they will attend an international gathering in Jordan this week. However, it remains unclear whether the rivals would meet in private. Anonymous Israeli and Palestinian officials said the two leaders would meet during a small breakfast meeting Thursday hosted by Jordan's King Abdullah II. The breakfast is taking place at a gathering of Nobel winners in the tourist town of Petra. Jordanian officials said the kingdom is seeking to bring the Israeli and Palestinian leaders together, but declined to give further details. According to the AP, the two leaders are meeting for the first time since Olmert took office last month, and the Islamic militant group Hamas won Palestinian legislative elections early this year. Reports have Abbas trying to restart the peace talk with Israel. Israel has welcomed the talks but argued that meaningful peace talks cannot take place as long as Hamas, which controls the Palestinian legislature and Cabinet, remains committed to Israel's destruction. Also, Israeli leader has planned a unilateral withdrawal from much of the West Bank, if the peace efforts do not hold any grounds. However the plan is being opposed by the Palestinians who argue that Israel would still retain about 10 percent of the |
