Larger issues standing in the way of a peace agreement between Israel and the Palestinians -- borders, Jewish settlements, Palestinian refugees, Jerusalem -- were apparently not even seriously discussed. [Ehud Olmert] said in advance that the talks with Palestinian President Mahmoud Abbas would be limited to humanitarian issues.

Mohammed Dahlan, a Palestinian negotiator who attended the meeting, called the summit "difficult." He said the Palestinians called on Olmert to fulfil his pledge to ease travel restrictions in the West Bank by removing roadblocks, and to release sick and elderly Palestinian prisoners from Israeli jails, but Olmert made no promises.