"Today's meeting was productive and comprehensive. They discussed an array of issues and focussed on the Palestinian-Israeli issues for generating momentum in the peace process," Prime Minister's media adviser Miri Eisin told PTI.

She confirmed that the Israeli leader had agreed "in principle" to attend the summit, though no date or place had been set. "Israel is committed to building confidence with President Abbas but if such a government does not recognise Israel we will have hardships dealing with them," Eisin said.

A senior US official in Rice's delegation said on condition of anonymity that the "trilateral meeting" will aim at "having a conversation about the political horizon leading to the establishment of a Palestinian state." Though details of the three hour meeting between the two leaders were not formally released, sources in the PMO said that Olmert told Rice that he was willing to take "unprecedented steps" to ease the Palestinian crisis if they accepted the conditions laid down by the international community, Israel Radio said today.

They discussed ways to boost Abbas' standing in his struggle against Hamas, with Rice urging Olmert to follow up on his promise to release a part of the tax money and easing of travel restrictions, sources said.