Thursday, 22 June 2006Israeli Prime Minister Ehud Olmert and Palestinian Authority President Mahmoud Abbas are meeting for the first time in a year.
They are having breakfast in the ancient Jordanian city of Petra, hosted by Jordan's King Abdullah.
Both sides insist it is not a formal meeting, though the Israelis say they are planning for a proper summit soon.
There is no plan for the Israeli and Palestinian leaders to meet one-to-one at the event in Petra.
They are meeting on the sidelines of a Nobel conference. Others around the table include Nobel Prize winner Elie Wiesel and the Thai deputy prime minister.
The Israelis are not even calling it a meeting, even though Mr Olmert is has travelled to Jordan especially for the occasion.
This sort of non-meeting may rather suit the Israelis. They can say they are talking with the Palestinians without actually having to engage in active negotiations.
As for Mr Abbas, he continues to press for the reopening of full peace talks as soon as possible.
Jon Leyne, BBCNews
June 22, 2006
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Thursday, 22 June 2006
Israel
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