9-01-08, 9:48 am

Tel Aviv, Aug 30 (Prensa Latina) Israeli Prime Minister Ehud Olmert and Palestinian President Mahmoud Abbas are discussing a bilateral peace agreement this weekend.

Israeli government and Palestine National Authority spokespeople said Olmert and Abbas are meeting in West Jerusalem at Olmert's residence to continue the US-promoted negotiations after US Secretary of State Condoleezza Rice visited Israel and Ramallah, the Palestinian city in the West Bank.

Rice tried to rush at least a partial agreement before President George W. Bush's term is over in January 2009, but Abbas championed a global and lasting understanding that includes the founding of an independent Palestine.

The two heads of state are also discussing western support of the so-called waybill that demands Israel stop settling occupied territories.

Abbas and Olmert met in August 6 and Israel released 198 imprisoned Palestinians but official reports indicate nine fishermen were imprisoned on Friday by the Israeli coast guard.

Palestine sources reported 17 people were arrested in Naplusa, on the West Bank, included an activist of al-Fatah, led by President Abbas.

Other reports indicated Tel Aviv re-opened on Thursday its border paths to the Gaza Strip, currently controlled by Hamas (Islamic Resistance Movement), resuming trade in the Strip blocked since 2006.

Prensa Latina