Israeli Prime Minister Ehud Olmert and Palestinian National Authority (PNA) Chairman Mahmoud Abbas is holding talks Saturday evening at Olmert's residence in Jerusalem.

The meeting is being described as a private one, and Israeli officials refused to specify what the two leaders will talk about.

"We don't know how long the meeting will last," Mark Regev, spokesman for Israeli Foreign Affair Ministry, said to Xinhua. "We will have a statement after the meeting," he added.

Earlier in the day, Olmert spokeswoman Miri Eisin confirmed that Olmert was due to meet with Abbas on Saturday evening, but she refused to give the exact time and the place of the meeting.

It is the first meeting between the Israeli and Palestinian leaders since the two met last June in Jordan.

The two top officials will focus mainly on strengthening the cease-fire and possibly expanding it to include the West Bank, Palestinian official said.

The two are also expected to discuss an agreed upon timetable and means for releasing prisoners and the renewal of talks between the parties.

Olmert talked with Israeli Defense Minister Amir Peretz before his meeting with Abbas. Peretz pointed out that this is a very important meeting that could be an opening for agreements and continued negotiations.

Peretz said that he would do whatever it takes to strengthen the moderate factions in the PNA.

Source: Xinhua