(Agencies)
Updated: 2007-12-24 16:46

Israeli Foreign Ministry spokesman Arye Mekel said Israel hoped "it will be possible to advance negotiations, to move them forward" during Monday's session, despite the disputes.

The Palestinians accuse Israel of ignoring its obligations under the road map, which explicitly calls for a halt to all settlement activity, including so-called "natural growth."

Prime Minister Ehud Olmert's spokesman, Mark Regev, said Israel would meet its obligations by not allowing "outward growth" of existing settlements, by preventing new settlements from being built, and by not confiscating any more Palestinian land.

But Israel will allow construction to continue within built-up areas of existing settlements. Israel wants to keep Maale Adumim and other large settlement blocs in any peace deal.

Abbas is expected to meet Olmert as early as Tuesday to follow up on last month's Annapolis conference in which the leaders set the goal of negotiating a statehood agreement before US President George W. Bush leaves office in January 2009.

Bush will visit the region early next month.

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