Israeli and the Palestinian officials say they are ready for talks between their leaders on reviving a US-backed peace plan.
Hopes for the "road map" to peace have risen slightly with President Yasser Arafat swearing in a long-awaited Palestinian cabinet yesterday, and Prime Minister Ahmed Qurie vowing to seek a ceasefire to halt a three-year-old uprising.
"The first thing that will happen is a meeting between Prime Minister [Ariel] Sharon and Abu Ala," Israeli Foreign Minister Mr Silvan Shalom said today, using Mr Qurie's nom de guerre. "This is expected within 10 days, in my opinion."
Israeli media said any talks would take place only after Sharon returns late next week from a visit to Italy which starts on Monday next week.
In the West Bank city of Ramallah, Mr Qurie convened his cabinet for the first time and told reporters no date had been set for talks with Mr Sharon.
"I want a meeting to be well prepared and I hope that the preparations will start soon and also the meeting will come soon," he said, adding that such talks could "open a horizon" towards "real peace."
The last meeting between prime ministers of the two sides was on July 20th when Mr Sharon held talks with Mr Mahmoud Abbas, Mr Qurie's predecessor. In February, Mr Sharon met Mr Qurie who was then parliamentary speaker.
Israel refuses to deal with Mr Arafat, accusing him of fomenting violence, a charge he denies.
On Wednesday Mr Qurie told parliament he wanted to end "chaos" wrought by anti-road map militants and Israeli army raids into Palestinian areas. Suicide attacks and Israeli strikes eroded a short-lived truce by militants earlier this year.