Israeli, Palestinian leaders to meet every fortnight

ISRAELI and Palestinian leaders have agreed to meet every two weeks to discuss day-to-day issues, in a move that eventually could spur talks on a final peace settlement, US Secretary of State Condoleezza Rice announced yesterday.

After going between the two sides for the past three days, she also said her envoy will try to set benchmarks for implementing a ceasefire, including the halting of rocket fire from Gaza, and for improving the flow of Palestinian people and goods through Israeli crossings.

Ms Rice said she believed it was still possible for a peace deal to be reached during US President George W Bush’s term and that Israeli Prime Minister Ehud Olmert and Palestinian President Mahmoud Abbas showed flexibility.