Palestinian Authority president Mahmud Abbas telephoned to congratulate new Israeli Prime Minister Ehud Olmert and to urge him to resume Middle East peace talks, an official said.
‘President Abbas telephoned Israeli Prime Minister Ehud Olmert. He congratulated him on the inauguration of his government and called him to a partnership in the peace process,’ chief negotiator Saeb Erekat told AFP.
‘They agreed to meet after Mr Olmert returns from Washington,’ Erakat said, later specifying that the date would be fixed after the Israeli premier's return home.
Olmert's office confirmed Abbas had called to congratulate the premier but stressed firmly that no meeting between the two leaders was scheduled.
One senior official speaking on condition of anonymity did indicate, however, that a summit was possible after Olmert returned from Washington.
Olmert, whose new coalition government was sworn in on Thursday, is to leave for Washington on May 21 ahead of talks with US President George W. Bush.
In a keynote address to parliament, Olmert vowed to redraw the borders of Israel by withdrawing from parts of the West Bank and keeping large settlement blocs, with or without Palestinian agreement.
He said he would prefer to reach a negotiated settlement with the Palestinian Authority but indicated that no progress in the peace process was possible while Hamas ran its government.