Abbas and Olmert Meet for Talks on Peace Talks

Israeli Prime Minister Ehud Olmert and Palestinian leader Mahmoud Abbas have met, amid pressure from the US to find a way to restart peace talks.

The meeting in Jerusalem was the first in a series of fortnightly talks they agreed on during a visit last month by US Secretary of State Condoleezza Rice.

Palestinian group Hamas dismissed the talks as a photo opportunity.

Their next meeting in two weeks is likely to be in the West Bank town of Jericho, both sides indicated.

"It was a positive meeting, part of the ongoing dialogue which helps build confidence between the Israeli and Palestinian leadership," Mr Olmert's spokeswoman, Miri Eisin, was quoted as saying by Reuters news agency.

Chief Palestinian negotiator Saeb Erekat said: "This meeting is only the beginning. I don't think one meeting can solve all the problems."

Peace talks have been largely stalled for six years, and aides for both Mr Abbas and Mr Olmert lowered any expectations that Sunday's meeting would be able to achieve anything substantial.

However, one senior Israeli official said that when the alternative is to do nothing, even the tiniest amount of progress is welcome.