Olmert and Abbas last met on Aug. 6, and during the meeting Israel announced to release more Palestinian prisoners as a goodwill gesture to bolster Abbas and the peace efforts.

Following the return of some 200 prisoners last week, Abbas said there would be no peace without the release of all the over 11,000 prisoners.

Olmert under fire

Hours before the summit, Foreign Minister Tzipi Livni, a front-runner to replace Olmert, reiterated her concern over Olmert's attempt to fast-track the negotiations. She told a weekly cabinet meeting that Israel should rush into premature deals under the time pressure.

"We must not let the pressures of time force us to make the mistakes of trying to bridge the gaps in way that will lead to a collapse or of making critical concessions just to get to a result," local daily The Jerusalem Post quoted her as saying.

Earlier this month, the top Israeli diplomat warned that "any attempt to bridge gaps which might be premature to bridge or any attempt to reach something which is not the comprehensive agreement we want to reach" can lead to clashes, misunderstandings and violence.

Also during the cabinet meeting, Public Security Minister Avi Dichter, another candidate to replace Olmert, slammed Olmert for negotiating with the Palestinians without the backing of his ministers and for not keeping them updated, said the report.

Meanwhile, Dichter expressed his concern over the document Olmert was seeking to sign, particularly in light of the fact that the prime minister was likely to end his term in two weeks, while Abbas may be replaced in four months, added the report.

Dichter's remarks echoed those of Labor, Trade and Industry Minister Eli Yishai, who told Army Radio before the cabinet meeting that he was getting most of the details about the peace talks from the media.

The chairman of the Shas Party in the ruling coalition also argued that Olmert had no legal or moral right to sign any agreement with the Palestinians, "particularly not those concerning Jerusalem."

(Xinhua News Agency September 1, 2008)