Jordanian King Abdullah indicated Jordan's involvement in PA-Israeli negotiations by announcing the summit, which was cancelled last week because of growing violence and anarchy in the PA, government sources said.
The PA will demand that Israel withdraw military forces from more urban centers in Samaria and release more Arab prisoners from prison. These two actions were promised at February's Sharm El-Sheikh summit on condition that the PA end incitement and terrorism against Israel. Israel already has freed 900 prisoners, including convicted terrorists, and has withdrawn from Jericho and Tulkarm, where the IDF has re-entered several times to arrest terrorists.
Analysts said the two leaders are meeting in order to prop up the image of Abbas, who is scheduled to meet with American President George W. Bush on October 20.
Dov Weissglas, senior aide to Prime Minister Ariel Sharon, will hold a preliminary meeting Thursday with PA chief negotiator Saeb Erakat.
Sharon and Abbas have not met since last June, weeks before the expulsion of Jewish residents in the Gaza and northern Samaria regions and the subsequent withdrawal Israel military forces.
Analysts said one purpose of the timing of the meeting is to prop up the image of Abbas prior to the scheduled meeting with American President George W. Bush on October 20.
The meeting comes at the same time the PA is in the midst of a governmental crisis. Legislators have given the executive branch two weeks to appoint a new cabinet in the wake of increasing anarchy and violence and Gaza which has threatened the PA's ability to govern.
The PA will demand that Israel withdraw military forces from more urban centers in Samaria and release more Arab prisoners from prison. These two actions were promised at February's Sharm El-Sheikh summit on condition that the PA end incitement and terrorism against Israel. Israel already has freed 900 prisoners, including convicted terrorists, and has withdrawn from Jericho and Tulkarm, where the IDF has re-entered several times to arrest terrorists.
Analysts said the two leaders are meeting in order to prop up the image of Abbas, who is scheduled to meet with American President George W. Bush on October 20.
Dov Weissglas, senior aide to Prime Minister Ariel Sharon, will hold a preliminary meeting Thursday with PA chief negotiator Saeb Erakat.
Sharon and Abbas have not met since last June, weeks before the expulsion of Jewish residents in the Gaza and northern Samaria regions and the subsequent withdrawal Israel military forces.
Analysts said one purpose of the timing of the meeting is to prop up the image of Abbas prior to the scheduled meeting with American President George W. Bush on October 20.
The meeting comes at the same time the PA is in the midst of a governmental crisis. Legislators have given the executive branch two weeks to appoint a new cabinet in the wake of increasing anarchy and violence and Gaza which has threatened the PA's ability to govern.