Abbas, Olmert to meet this week

JERICHO, West Bank, Dec. 25 (UPI) -- The chief Palestinian negotiator said Tuesday Palestinian President Mahmoud Abbas and Israeli Prime Minister Ehud Olmert will meet this week.

Saeb Erekat told U.S. Sen. Arlen Specter during a meeting in Jericho Abbas will seek a promise from Olmert to end construction of new settlements, KUNA, the Kuwaiti news agency, reported. Israel recently said it would build 750 housing units in Maale Adumim in the West Bank and Har Homa in east Jerusalem.

Erekat urged Washington to keep its word to oversee implementation of the so-called Road Map to peace. The meeting between Abbas and Olmert is one of a series aimed at working out a peace accord that could lead to a Palestinian state by the end of 2008.