Prime Minister Ehud Olmert began his meeting with Palestinian Authority Chairman Mahmoud Abbas Monday afternoon with a statement of his intention to help Abbas create a PA state.
"I came here in order to discuss with you the fundamental issues outstanding between Israel and the Palestinian Authority, hoping that this will lead us soon into negotiations about the creation of a Palestinian state," said Olmert as he entered the Intercontinental Hotel in Jericho with Abbas.
Olmert aides said the Prime Minister did not intend to offer any further "good will" gestures at Monday's meeting, but rather to sketch out the basics of a plan to present at the regional summit planned by the United States for this autumn.