JERUSALEM, Oct. 3 (Xinhuanet) -- Israeli Prime Minister Ariel Sharon will meet with Palestinian leader Mahmoud Abbas before the latter's trip to Washington on Oct. 20, the Ha'aretz daily reported Monday.

   During his phone talk with Sharon on Sunday, Abbas wished the prime minister and the Israeli people "a happy and successful New Year," which begins Monday evening, the daily quoted a political source as saying.

   Sharon responded by wishing Abbas and the Palestinian people a happy Ramadan, which begins this week.

   The two "expressed hope that the new year will be a better one -- a year of peace and hope," said a statement from Sharon's Office.

   The Sharon-Abbas meeting was supposed to have taken place Sunday, but was postponed due to the escalation of violence.

   According to the political source, ahead of the Sharon-Abbas meeting, Israel wants to see concrete progress on such issues as a withdrawal from West Bank cities and release of Palestinian prisoners.  Enditem