Olmert and Abbas make progress in Jericho

Israel has promised solutions for many of the day-to-day concerns of Palestinians in Israeli-controlled areas, Palestinians President Mahmoud Abbas said after talks with Israeli Prime Minister Ehud Olmert.

Abbas and Olmert met for three hours yesterday in the West Bank town of Jericho, and both said they talked about fundamental issues that are to pave the way toward Palestinian statehood. Olmert promised Abbas that negotiations on a final peace deal would start “soon”.