Italian Premier calls for Olmert-Abbas talks

Italian Premier Romano Prodi today called for direct talks between Israeli prime minister Ehud Olmert and Palestinian president Mahmoud Abbas.

"I express my hopes that this meeting can happen soon," Prodi said at a joint news conference with his Israeli counterpart in Rome. "Direct talks are extremely important."

Prodi also noted that Israel needed to remain a Jewish state, prompting thanks from Olmert, who said: "These words have a very special meaning for me."

Earlier, Israel's prime minister asked Pope Benedict XVI to urge Christians to protest Holocaust denials as the two met at the Vatican, Israeli government officials said.

Ehud Olmert also invited Benedict to visit Israel, and the pontiff replied that he planned to go "when things calm down", according to Israeli government officials.

Benedict, who met with Olmert alone for an unexpectedly long 35 minutes, in turn praised Israel's restraint in Gaza, spokesman Jacob Galanti said.