Peace talks to continue despite Olmert scandal

ISRAEL’S prime minister Ehud Olmert sought to assure Palestinian president Mahmoud Abbas yesterday that peace talks would not be affected by a corruption scandal that could force the Israeli leader from office.

“This process will continue,” spokesman for Olmert, Mark Regev, said after the leaders met in Jerusalem, adding that Olmert recommitted during the meeting to trying to reach a deal on Palestinian statehood by the end of the year.

“I can say unequivocally that there was progress reached in this meeting today,” Regev told reporters, giving no details.