GAZA, Nov. 27 (Xinhua) -- Palestinian President Mahmoud Abbas will visit Jordan on Wednesday where he is expected to hold talks with U.S. President George W. Bush, Palestinian sources said onMonday.

    Abbas and Bush are likely to meet in Jordan's port city of Aqaba after Bush to hold joint meeting with Iraqi Prime Minister Nouri al-Maliki and Jordanian King Abdullah II, the sources told the independent news agency of Ramattan.

    The meeting between Abbas and Bush, the first time since Hamas took power in March, would focus on the general situation in the Palestinian territories, especially a fresh ceasefire deal with Israel, the sources said.

    Moreover, Abbas and Bush are also expected to discuss the latest developments concerning the formation of a new government of national unity.

    On Sunday, the truce between Palestinian militants and Israelis went into effect, ending a five-month Israeli military offensive in Gaza in the wake of the abduction of an Israeli soldier.

    However, only hours after the truce took effect, Palestinian militants fired homemade rockets at the Israeli town of Sderot.

    Despite the Palestinian violation of the truce, Israeli Prime Minister Ehud Olmert has said that Israel would display "patience and restraint," as the truce is still holding.

    Earlier Monday morning, two Palestinians were shot dead by Israeli forces, after entering Qabatiya district in northern West Bank town of Jenin, where the Israelis confronted with the Palestinian militants.

    Also on Monday, Israeli Prime Minister Ehud Olmert said in a major policy speech that Israel is ready to free "many" Palestinian prisoners jailed in Israel in exchange for the return of Israeli soldier Gilad Shalit, raising hopes to solve stalemate.

    According to radio Voice of Palestine, U.S. Secretary of State Condoleezza Rice is expected to visit the region and oversee along-delayed summit between Palestinian President Mahmoud Abbasand Israeli Prime Minister Ehud Olmert.

    Meanwhile, the Israeli radio has also reported Abbas-Olmertsummit has been scheduled, adding the meeting would be in the nearfuture and Rice would attend it.

    So far, Abbas and Olmert has not met since June when the Palestinian militants kidnapped the Israeli Corporal Gilad Shalitin Gaza.

Related:

    Olmert: Israel to release Palestinian prisoners if soldier freed

    JERUSALEM, Nov. 27 (Xinhua) -- Israeli Prime Minister Ehud Olmert said Monday that Israel is ready to free the Palestinian prisoners jailed in Israel in exchange for the return of Israeli soldier Gilad Shalit, local Ha'aretz said. 

    Hamas orders investigation into violation of ceasefire

    GAZA, Nov. 26 (Xinhua) -- The Hamas-led Palestinian government on Sunday condemned the rocket attacks at southern Israeli towns, which breached a ceasefire with Israel and said it would look into the attacks.

    PM: Israel to display patience and restraint 

    JERUSALEM, Nov. 26 (Xinhua) -- Israeli Prime Minister Ehud Olmert on Sunday said that Israel would display "patience and restraint" in the face of Palestinian breaching of a cease-fire that went into effect earlier in the day, local media said.

    Abbas, Olmert agree on ceasefire

    GAZA, Nov. 25 (Xinhua) -- Palestinian President Mahmoud Abbas and Israeli Prime Minister Ehud Olmert on Saturday night agreed on a mutual ceasefire as of 6:00 a.m. (0400 GMT) Sunday, said Nabil Abu Rudeineh, an advisor to Abbas.

An Israeli tank arrives at a military staging area near Kibbutz Mefalsim in southern Israel , after leaving an operation in the Gaza Strip , Saturday, Nov. 25, 2006. Israel and the Palestinians agreed to a cease-fire Saturday to end a five-month Israeli military offensive in the Gaza Strip and the firing of rockets by Palestinian militants into the Jewish state, officials from both sides said. (Xinhua/Reuters Photo) Photo Gallery >>>

    "President Abbas informed Prime Minister Olmert on telephone that Palestinian factions decided to stop firing homemade rockets at Israel starting from 6:00 a.m. Sunday," Abu Rudeineh told reporters.

    He said Olmert told Abbas that he accepted the proposal and decided to stop military operations in the Gaza Strip.

    Israeli army says has withdrawn all troops from Gaza

    JERUSALEM, Nov. 26 (Xinhua) -- The Israeli army said on Sunday that it had withdrawn all of its troops from the Gaza Strip overnight before the truce took effect.

A Palestinian man inspects a destroyed factory after Israeli troops pulled out of the northern Gaza Strip November 26, 2006. Palestinian President Mahmoud Abbas and Israeli Prime Minister Ehud Olmert on Saturday night agreed on a mutual ceasefire as of 6:00 a.m.(0400 GMT) Sunday. (Xinhua/Reuters Photo) Photo Gallery >>>

    A spokeswoman for the Israeli army said "there are no forces now in Gaza."

A Palestinian boy sits on a donkey cart after Israeli troops pulled out of the northern Gaza Strip November 26, 2006. The Israeli army said on Sunday that it had withdrawn all of its troops from the Gaza Strip overnight before the truce took effect. (Xinhua/Reuters Photo) Photo Gallery >>>

    Palestinian President Mahmoud Abbas and Israeli Prime Minister Ehud Olmert on Saturday night agreed on a mutual ceasefire as of 6:00 a.m. (0400 GMT) Sunday, Abbas' spokesman Nabil Abu Rudeineh said.

    According to Rudeineh, Olmert told Abbas that he accepted the ceasefire proposal and decided to stop military operation in the Gaza Strip.