Special report: Internal situation in Palestine
GAZA, June 3 (Xinhua) -- Palestinian Chief Negotiator Saeb Erekat said on
Sunday that Palestinian President Mahmoud Abbas and Israeli Prime Minister Ehud
Olmert would meet soon to discuss the idea of resuming the stalled Middle East
peace process.
But Erekat said no date has been set for the meeting, adding that contacts
with the Israelis, to arrange for the summit, were underway.
"If the meeting is held, it will discuss a political horizon to end the
military occupation of the territories," Erekat said. "The meeting will also
discuss the roadmap peace plan and the two-state solution of (U.S.) President
George W. Bush."
A few days ago, President Abbas said he would meet Olmert on June 7. His
remarks were made in Gaza where the Israeli army has launched aerial offensive
against Hamas Islamists who lead the current coalition government.
"The two men will meet to reinforce ceasefire, but the violence brings
violence and Israel must understand this," Erekat told Voice of Palestine radio.
However, Erekat expressed concerns that the Israeli offensive in the
Palestinian territories could negatively affect an upcoming meeting between
Abbas and Olmert.
The Israeli troops killed two Palestinians in the West Bank during ground
operations. The soldiers gunned down a Fatah militant in fire exchange in Jenin
refugee camp this morning and another civilian in Nablus last night.
Meanwhile, Olmert said earlier Sunday that his army would continue aerial
and ground offensives to crack down on Palestinian militants who were launching
homemade rockets at Israel.
Four Israeli soldiers were injured, one of them moderately, earlier on
Sunday after Islamic Hamas militants fired at least eight mortar shells at Erez
border crossing between Gaza northern tip and Israel.
Al-Qassam Brigades, Hamas armed wing, claimed responsibility for the attack
on Erez and vowed in a pamphlet to continue attacks on Israel as long as the
Israeli offensive goes on.
Israel Radio quoted Olmert as saying during the weekly cabinet meeting that
"although the number of rockets fired from Gaza at Israel had dropped, the
Israeli army doesn't have plans to change its activities."
The Israeli PM reiterated that "Still no one in Gaza is immune."