RAMALLAH, West Bank - Palestinian prime minister Ahmed Qorei and Israel's deputy premier Shimon Peres held secret talks last week in the highest level meeting between the two sides since a landmark summit two months ago, a Palestinian official and reports said on Monday.
The official, speaking on condition of anonymity, confirmed a report in the Al-Ayyam newspaper that the meeting took place last Wednesday and was also attended by chief Palestinian negotiator Saeb Erakat and civil affairs minister Mohammed Dahlan as well as Israeli minister without portfolio Haim Ramon.
The Palestinians called during the meeting for an immediate halt to all settlement activity in the occupied territories, as required under the terms of the roadmap peace plan, in particular a reversal of a decision to build 3,500 housing units at the Maale Adumim settlement bloc, near Jerusalem.
Palestinian Authority president Mahmud Abbas and Israeli Prime Minister Ariel Sharon met in Egypt in early February, the first time the two most senior leaders on both had held talks in over five years.
The pair have still to meet on home turf although Abbas has held talks with Israeli Defence Minister Shaul Mofaz.
A spokesman for Peres refused to comment when contacted by AFP.
04/04/2005 13:58 GMT