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Sharm Al Shaikh: Palestinian President Mahmoud Abbas on Monday called on Israeli Prime Minister Ehud Olmert to start "serious" peace negotiations.
"I invite you to start serious political negotiations according to an agreed calendar, with the aim of establishing an independent Palestinian state with [Occupied] Jerusalem as its capital, existing alongside Israel," Abbas said during a summit.
He appealed to Olmert not to pass up "this historic opportunity" to make peace with the Palestinians.
Olmert said he intended to free 250 Palestinian prisoners from Israeli jails in a gesture to Abbas. He said a new opportunity had been created to promote the Middle East peace process and that he would not let that opportunity pass.
In addition to promising to free the prisoners, Olmert said he would ease travel restrictions in the West Bank, but offered no details.
Egyptian President Hosni Mubarak and Jordan's King Abdullah joined Abbas and Olmert, who had met separately earlier yesterday.
The Middle East leaders are hoping to boost Abbas and his emergency cabinet but with little hope of a breakthrough on reviving stalled peace talks.
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