Israeli, Palestinian leaders meet before Bush visit

JERUSALEM, January 8 : Israeli and Palestinian leaders met on Tuesday, a day ahead of US President George W Bush’s arrival in the region, to try to wring some sort of progress from talks that have barely advanced since a US-sponsored West Asia peace conference.

Negotiating sessions since the late-November gathering in Annapolis, Maryland, have been marred by Israeli construction plans in the disputed territory and violence in the West Bank and Gaza Strip.

Bush is scheduled to land in Israel on Wednesday for three days of talks with Israeli and Palestinian leaders meant to spur still-sluggish peace talks. With the President at their side, Israeli Prime Minister Ehud Olmert and Palestinian President Mahmoud Abbas had pledged in Annapolis to make efforts to reach a peace deal before the US President leaves office in a year.

Israeli settlements and security issues are expected to dominate Tuesday’s talks.

Palestinian negotiator Saeb Erekat said settlements would be brought up in the Abbas-Olmert talks on Tuesday.

Olmert spokesman Mark Regev said Israel would raise security issues, and urge the Palestinian Authority to be more effective.

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