Abbas, Olmert meet in bid to unblock peace talks

JERUSALEM (AFP) - Israeli and Palestinian leaders met on Thursday to try to jumpstart newly revived peace talks, which have stalled after just two sessions over the issue of Israeli settlements.
Israeli Prime Minister Ehud Olmert hosted Palestinian president Mahmud Abbas at his Jerusalem residence for around two hours in their first meeting since they re-launched peace talks at a US conference in late November.
Abbas had been expected to again press Israel to stop all settlement activity on occupied Palestinian land, while Olmert is likely to insist the two sides focus on the goal of a comprehensive agreement rather than obstacles, officials said.
“The meeting will focus on the need to halt settlements in Palestinian territory,” Abbas spokesman Nabil Abu Rudeina told AFP, adding that “up to now, negotiations have been stalled because of Israel