Palestinian and Israeli leaders to meet for talks on Sunday

The Palestinian President Mahmoud Abbas will meet with the Israeli Prime Minister Ehud Olmert on Sunday for continued 'peace talks', according to officials.

Mahmoud Abbas and Ehud Olmert

The talks come just days after a visit by US Secretary of State Condoleezza Rice, in which little progress was made toward lifting the roadblocks to peace that Israeli leaders have imposed.

 

The timing also coincides with the release of a report by Reuters News Agency that the US government is providing tax breaks to organizations that fund illegal Israeli settlements on occupied Palestinian land, in direct violation of the statements made by Rice and George W. Bush.

 

According to Palestinian negotiator Saeb Erekat, the meeting will be to "review the negotiations and the final status issues".  Israel agreed in 2000 to stop the expansion of settlements on Palestinian land, as part of the peace talks at that time.  But since 2000, settlements have increased 20%, and the Israeli Wall has cemented the nation's claim to land seized from the Palestinians by force.

 

With little progress, and blatant violations of signed agreements by Israel, analysts predict little progress will be made by Sunday's talks.

 

Olmert, facing charges of corruption, may soon be forced to step down as Prime Minister.