Israelis and Palestinians gear up for crunch talks

Israeli Prime Minister Ariel Sharon met key advisers today as he geared up for crucial talks tomorrow evening with his Palestinian counterpart, the first meeting at that level between the two sides in 31 months.

Palestinian premier Mahmoud Abbas will put pressure on Sharon to accept the so-called “road map” to peace, which aims to stop the fighting and establish a Palestinian state in the West Bank and Gaza Strip.