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Israeli and Palestinian Premiers to Meet

Posted on: Wednesday, 10 March 2004, 06:00 CST

JERUSALEM - The Israeli and Palestinian prime ministers have agreed to meet in a summit that will probably be held next week, a senior Palestinian official said Wednesday.

The tentative date for the long-delayed summit is Tuesday, the official said on condition of anonymity.

Aides to Israeli Prime Minister Ariel Sharon and Palestinian Prime Minister Ahmed Qureia said more preparations were required and that the date was not final.

The two leaders, who had not met since Qureia took office in October, had tried for months to arrange a meeting, but were unable to agree on an agenda. Qureia has said he wanted a summit to yield results, such an easing of Israeli restrictions on Palestinians. It was not immediately clear whether Sharon gave new assurances to the Palestinians ahead of the meeting.

The senior Palestinian official said the two sides have agreed to hold the summit, and that it would probably take place Tuesday.

Saeb Erekat, a Palestinian negotiator, said more preparatory talks are to be held, and that there was no final agreement yet on a summit.

Raanan Gissin, a Sharon adviser, said that "there are discussions about possibly holding a meeting on this date, but it cannot be confirmed."

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