Olmert Abbas Jerusalem Meeting

13 April 2008

Jewish Prime Minister Ehud Olmert refused to agree to an Egyptian initiative to arrange an unofficial ceasefire in Gaza, Palestinian negotiator Saeb Erekat said Sunday.

Olmert's reported rebuttal came during an unscheduled meeting with Mahmoud Abbas in Jerusalem.

Erekat said the meeting took place Sunday because Abbas was leaving Monday on the trip that will take him to the US.

The intention appeared to be to keep the meeting at Olmert's official residence a secret. In the past, their frequent sessions have been announced well in advance, and news photographers are granted some access. Sunday's meeting was confirmed only hours before it took place. The two met just last week.

Abbas is due to meet U.S. President George W. Bush in Washington in 23 April, and a Jewish official would say only that the meeting was meant to "coordinate" peace moves before the trip.

He would not elaborate, speaking on condition of anonymity because the meeting's agenda was confidential.