WASHINGTON, Feb. 2 (Xinhuanet) -- The United States welcomed on Wednesday a planned summit meeting between Palestinian leader Mahmoud Abbas and Israeli Prime Minister Ariel Sharon next week.

    "That is an encouraging step that is being taken," White House spokesman Scott McClellan said.

    Palestinian official sources revealed on Saturday that Abbas and Sharon will hold a landmark summit on Feb. 8 in Egypt.

    The sources said Palestinian Prime Minister Ahmed Qurei will participate in the summit, which will focus on concrete steps to be taken for the revival of the long-stalled peace process.

    The United States has expressed satisfaction to the positive sighs emerging in the Middle East peace process. Attacks on Israeli targets have dropped sharply during the past few days, as Abbas ordered the deployment of thousands of security forces across Gaza to curb violence, a step considered crucial to the resumption of peace negotiations. Enditem