Emphasizing that he prefers to see the positive side of the Hamas takeover of the Gaza Strip, Prime Minister Ehud Olmert said Thursday that his upcoming summit with Egyptian, Jordanian and Palestinian Authority leaders represents "a new start" in relations between Israel and the PA.
The meeting between PA Chairman Mahmoud Abbas and Prime Minister Olmert on Sunday will be the first such meeting after the Hamas coup in Gaza. Also taking part in the summit at the Sinai resort town of Sharm El-Sheikh will be Jordanian King Abdullah II and, the host of the event, Egyptian President Hosni Mubarak.
In his remarks, delivered at a gathering of the Keren HaYesod organization in Haifa, Olmert said that he would work together with the Arab leaders at the summit "to create a platform for a new start between us and the Palestinians."
The Prime Minster also discussed his meeting with United States President George Bush this week, saying that the US premier wants to realize "the dream of the creation of a Palestinian state" before the end of his term in office. To that end, "we will have the support and involvement of the United States," he explained.
Regarding the Hamas takeover of Gaza, Olmert said, "I prefer to see not only the dangers, but also the possibilities." PA Arabs outside of Gaza, he noted, "see a new and better environment." Looking back over the difficulties of the past year in general, Prime Minister Olmert said, "the final result has been the creation of hope and a new opportunity."
The meeting between PA Chairman Mahmoud Abbas and Prime Minister Olmert on Sunday will be the first such meeting after the Hamas coup in Gaza. Also taking part in the summit at the Sinai resort town of Sharm El-Sheikh will be Jordanian King Abdullah II and, the host of the event, Egyptian President Hosni Mubarak.
In his remarks, delivered at a gathering of the Keren HaYesod organization in Haifa, Olmert said that he would work together with the Arab leaders at the summit "to create a platform for a new start between us and the Palestinians."
The Prime Minster also discussed his meeting with United States President George Bush this week, saying that the US premier wants to realize "the dream of the creation of a Palestinian state" before the end of his term in office. To that end, "we will have the support and involvement of the United States," he explained.
Regarding the Hamas takeover of Gaza, Olmert said, "I prefer to see not only the dangers, but also the possibilities." PA Arabs outside of Gaza, he noted, "see a new and better environment." Looking back over the difficulties of the past year in general, Prime Minister Olmert said, "the final result has been the creation of hope and a new opportunity."