Israel’s Prime Minister Ehud Olmert and Palestinian President Mahmoud Abbas agreed Monday to appoint teams that would discuss fundamental issues standing in the way of peace between the two sides.

Abbas and Olmert met in Jerusalem for a new round of discussions aimed at sorting out divergences before a conference mediated by the United States takes place in November. This decision to appoint representatives is considered to be “an achievement in itself toward a two-state solution,” as a Palestinian official said.

No names were made public so far, Israeli media saying two diplomats from Olmert’s office, one from the foreign ministry and another one from the defence ministry would represent Israel in the negotiations.

It seems the Israeli premier agreed to free Palestinian prisoners, but no further details regarding the exact number of detainees or date of their release were given.

This is the fourth meeting attended by both leaders since July, when the US–sponsored conference was announced by President Bush.

Through a statement made public after Monday’s interview, Olmert said both him and Abbas are looking forward to the mentioned summit and stressed they willing to make compromises in order to end the historic feud and reach the two-state goal.

But divergences continue to exist, Abbas pressing for sturdy commitments and an agreement that would include solutions to “final status issues” along with a firm timetable for the implementation of this agreement.

On the other side, Olmert tries to avoid concrete targets and deadlines, pushing forward for the signing of a deal containing basic principles of a future peace pact.

Olmert pledged to support the administration formed by Abbas in the West Bank and as a sign of this cooperation he met with the Palestinian leader five times since Hamas took over the Gaza Strip in mid-June.

The Islamic movement’s policy doesn’t include the recognition of the Jewish state, a hurdle that remained in the path of peace talks with Israel. Now that only Fatah members compose the government led by renown economist Salam Fayyad, Israel agreed to resume negotiations and revive ties with the newly-formed Palestinian administration.

Hamas said these talks are only a waste of time, because a peace agreement can’t be implemented without its consent. The radical movement accused Abbas and the Israeli government of trying “to weaken Hamas and the Palestinian resistance for the benefit the Israeli side.”