In Israel and the Occupied Territories, Israeli Prime Minister Ehud Olmert and Palestinian Authority President Mahmoud Abbas held their first formal meeting Saturday since Olmert’s election almost one year ago. Olmert pledged to dismantle a few dozen of the more than 400 Israeli roadblocks across the West Bank. He also promised to release $100 million in tax money owed to the Palestinian government. Israeli officials described the move as conciliatory, but Palestinian lawmaker Mustafa Barghouti said Israel had not met its minimal obligations.

Mustafa Barghouti: “The meeting was absolutely disappointing. It was much less than many people expected in Sharon. In my opinion, Olmert behaved in a very condescending manner. He is withholding $600 million of our tax money. This is Palestinian money, not Israeli money, and he is now wants to give $100 million only, and he wants to control how they will be spent. This is a condescending, unacceptable behavior.”