Israeli Prime Minister Ehud Olmert and Palestinian president Mahmud Abbas held a first official meeting in Jerusalem evening aimed at reviving the stalled peace process. Abbas and Olmert shook hands before the Palestinian leader’s motorcade left the premier’s official residence in Jerusalem following a two-hour meeting over dinner between the two teams, followed by one-on-one talks. Palestinian presidency spokesman Nabil Abu Rudeina told AFP that ‘the meeting was useful. It is the first and there will be many more meetings in the coming future. The sides agreed on many issues and we will keep discussing them.’ Olmert spokeswoman Miri Eisin confirmed the meeting had ended and that an official statement would be issued promptly. Abbas’s team included former prime minister Ahmed Qorei and chief Palestinian negotiator Saeb Erekat, while on Olmert’s side were his chief of staff Yoram Turbovitch and political advisor Shalom Turjeman. The long-awaited summit followed a series of preparatory meetings between officials on both sides, and came after six years of standstill in the Middle East peace process. Although this marked the first official encounter since Olmert was elected last March, the two leaders held an impromptu meeting during a gathering […]