Israeli Prime Minister Ehud Olmert said he could meet Palestinian President Mahmoud Abbas before a captive Israeli soldier in Gaza was freed and release Palestinian prisoners to the moderate leader at some stage. Some Israeli politicians including members of Olmert's cabinet have urged the prime minister to shun Abbas until extremists freed Corporal Gilad Shalit, who was snatched by gunmen in a cross-border raid from Gaza on June 25, Reuters reported. "Since I know he (Abbas) is making efforts to bring about the soldier's release, I sent messages recently that I am ready to meet with him even before Shalit is freed," Olmert told the Yedioth Ahronoth daily in an interview published on Friday. He gave no date for the meeting which the international community hopes could help revive peace talks.
