Jerusalem: Israeli Prime Minister Ariel Sharon will hold talks with his new Palestinian counterpart Ahmed Qorei "in 10 days", Foreign Minister Silvan Shalom said today (November 13).

"This meeting between the Prime Minister (Sharon) and Abu Alaa (Qorei) will take place in 10 days and will follow a series of meetings between other Israeli and Palestinian ministers," Shalom told military radio.

Israel froze official contacts with the Palestinians in mid-August after a massive suicide bombing in Jerusalem but Sharon's camp has indicated that it wants to give Qorei a chance to impose his authority after his new Government was given the overwhelming endorsement of Palestinian MPs yesterday (Nov 12).

Agencies