Special report: Palestine-Israel Relations    

    JERUSALEM, May 5 (Xinhua) -- Significant progress was achieved on the issue of permanent borders of a future Palestinian state during the meeting between Israeli Prime Minister Ehud Olmert and Palestinian President Mahmoud Abbas in Jerusalem, an Israeli official said on Monday.

    Major progress was achieved mainly on the issue of the permanent borders of a future Palestinian state and the security arrangements, the official was quoted as saying by the website of local daily Yedioth Ahronoth.

Israeli Prime Minister Ehud Olmert (R) meets with Palestinian President Mahmoud Abbas in Jerusalem, on May 5, 2008. Significant progress was achieved on the issue of permanent borders of a future Palestinian state during the meeting between Olmert and Abbas, an Israeli official said on Monday. (Xinhua Photo) Photo Gallery>>>

    The two leaders met a few hours after U.S. Secretary of State Condoleezza Rice's departure from the region.

    Mark Regev, spokesman for Olmert's office, told the media that "these were the most serious talks the sides have ever conducted."

    According to Israel Radio, Abbas and Olmert said following their meeting that they planned to work toward securing a peace settlement by the end of the year.

    At a U.S.-hosted conference last November, U.S. President George W. Bush has set the goal of reaching an agreement on a Palestinian state and an end to the six-decade conflict by the end of this year.

    The peace talks between Israel and the Palestinians are to be based on the U.S.-backed "roadmap," a peace plan that sets out a phased process leading to the formation of a Palestinian state.

Israeli Prime Minister Ehud Olmert (L) walks with Palestinian President Mahmoud Abbas in Jerusalem, on May 5, 2008.  (Xinhua Photo) Photo Gallery>>>

    As interim measures, Israel is supposed to halt settlement activity and take steps to improve the freedom of movement for Palestinians, while the Palestinians are supposed to dismantle militant groups.

    However, there has so far been little visible progress in the talks.

    A Palestinian official said prior to Monday's meeting that Abbas planned pressed Olmert on West Bank settlements and military roadblocks.