Abbas vows to see captured Israeli soldier Shalit be soon released

Source: Xinhuanet | 03-12-2007 09:48

JERUSALEM, March 11 (Xinhua) -- Palestinian National Authority (PNA) Chairman Mahmoud Abbas vowed on Sunday to see captured Israeli soldier Gilad Shalit be released "soon", Israeli TV Channel 10 reported.

Abbas made the promise during his meeting with Israeli Prime Minister Ehud Olmert on Sunday evening in Jerusalem, the second of its kind in less than a month.

According to the report, Abbas told Olmert that he would make an effort to see that Shalit, who was kidnapped by Palestinian militant groups last June near the Gaza Strip, would be released before the Palestinian unity government is set up "this week".

Meanwhile, Olmert, for the first time, had told an unnamed Arab diplomat that he was prepared to consider a "creative solution" to the problem of the Palestinian refugees, said Channel 10.

Olmert and Abbas met face to face for more than two hours on Sunday evening in Jerusalem, which made little progress on key issues but the two sides agreed to move forward with their fledgling dialogue and have further discussions in the future, local media reported.

Abbas brought up the Saudi peace initiative in the meeting, saying it had potential for furthering peace talks. He also asked Olmert for a ceasefire in the West Bank.

Olmert demanded the release of Shalit and an end to Qassam rocket attacks by Palestinian militants and weapon smuggling into Gaza.

Editor:Du Xiaodan