Palestinian militants in the Gaza Strip have reaffirmed they will adhere to a truce with Israeli forces agreed to five months ago. VOA's Jim Teeple reports from Jerusalem.

Italian Prime Minister Romano Prodi Tuesday denounced Hamas militants for breaking a cease-fire with Israel, but Palestinian President Mahmoud Abbas said the truce violation was an exceptional act. Mr. Abbas, who stopped in Rome on his tour of Europe, said there could be no more attacks between Israelis and Palestinians or else there could be no peace negotiations.

Israeli and Palestinian leaders will discuss the creation of a Palestinian state at a summit on Sunday. As Robert Berger reports from VOA's Jerusalem bureau, it is the first time that Israel has been willing to discuss the issue since the Islamic militant group Hamas won Palestinian elections over a year ago.

Palestinian and Israeli leaders are going to be meeting soon as part of a recent agreement to hold regular talks. Palestinian President Mahmoud Abbas says he will meet next week with Israeli Prime Minister Ehud Olmert. Mr. Abbas made the announcement while on a visit Tuesday to the West Bank city of Bethlehem. Mr. Olmert's office had no comment on the matter.

Thousands of pilgrims retraced Jesus' footsteps as they celebrated Holy Week at the sites where Christians mark his crucifixion, death and resurrection. A decrease in Palestinian-Israeli violence and the overlap of Christian calendars brought a wave of visitors to the Old City.

The U.N. Secretary General, Ban Ki-moon wrapped up a two-day visit to Israel and the Palestinian territories with a proposal to include key Arab states in a future meeting of the so-called Middle East Peace Quartet. VOA's Jim Teeple reports from Jerusalem that Israel's prime minister says he is open to the proposal.

U.S. Secretary of State Condoleezza Rice wrapped up a three-day trip to the Middle East with an agreement from Israeli and Palestinian leaders to hold meetings every two weeks. VOA's Jim Teeple reports from Jerusalem, that Secretary Rice also called on Arab states to work towards normalizing relations with Israel.

U.S. Secretary of State Condoleezza Rice has arrived in Egypt, on the first leg of a Middle East tour aimed at putting new life into the Israeli-Palestinian peace process. Rice has said that she hopes to rally more Arab support for peace talks.

U.S. Secretary of State Condoleezza Rice is leaving Washington for another Middle East trip aimed at spurring progress in Israeli-Palestinian peace efforts. She'll meet separately with Palestinian Authority chief Mahmoud Abbas and Israeli Prime Minister Ehud Olmert, along with leading Arab moderates. VOA's David Gollust reports from the State Department.

Israel's Prime Minister Ehud Olmert says Israel will make extensive concessions if they lead to peace with his country's enemies. Ehud Olmert says Israel is willing to make extensive, painful and tough concessions if doing so encourages a dialogue to develop with Israel's enemies.