Israeli and Palestinian leaders are to meet next week in the Palestinian territories for the first time in a bid to restore a shattered cease-fire in the Gaza Strip, a senior Palestinian official said. The announcement Thursday accompanied an easing in violence after two weeks of dueling between Palestinian rocket squads and Israeli forces. The fighting is expected to dominate the agenda of next week's meeting between Palestinian President Mahmoud Abbas and Israeli Prime Minister Ehud Olmert. «The president is working night and day for a mutual, comprehensive cease-fire,» said Abbas aide Nabil Abu Rdeneh. He said next week's summit, scheduled for June 7, «is expected in the Palestinian territories,» but he did not say where. Officials have previously mentioned the West Bank oasis of Jericho as the likely venue, the Associated Press reported.
