Meanwhile, Palestinian leaders have opened talks in Mecca over defusing internal fighting between the two main Palestinian factions Fatah and Hamas. The talks come as Israeli Prime Minister Ehud Olmert said he would meet this month with Secretary of State Condoleezza Rice and Palestinian President Mahmoud Abbas.

Israeli Prime Minister Ehud Olmert: “The meeting will take place on the 19th. The trilateral meeting initiated by Secretary Rice is significant, and I have enormous respect for the desires and energy Secretary Rice invests in pushing the process of negotiations with the Palestinians.”