JERUSALEM: Israeli Prime Minister Ehud Olmert said he plans to meet Palestinian President Mahmoud Abbas in the coming days, Israel Radio reported on Thursday.
Israel Radio said Olmert made the statement in an interview that will be broadcast in full later on Thursday.
Olmert has said he would meet Abbas but no plans for the summit had been finalised.
He said he would not consider freeing Palestinian prisoners before an Israeli soldier held captive in Gaza is released.
“I don't make any gestures at the expense of the lives of Israeli soldiers,” Olmert said.
“Until Gilad Shalit is freed, I won't deal with the matter of freeing Palestinian prisoners,” Olmert said, referring to the soldier captured in a cross-border raid from Gaza on June 25.
The Israeli prime minister ruled out talks with Syria, accusing Damascus of being "the main sponsor of Palestinian terrorist groups."
"No base for negotiations with Syria exists because this country continuously conducts terrorist activities against Israel through Hamas, Islamic Jihad and the Popular Front for the Liberation of Palestine," said Olmert.
"All this indicates that one can't take seriously the statements of Syrian leaders. Syria was and continues to be the main sponsor of Palestinian terrorist groups," he said.
