Palestinians and Israelis prepare for a summit

JERUSALEM — Looking ahead for the first time after months of impasse, the Israeli and Palestinian prime ministers on Thursday prepared for a summit, possibly within days.

Despite conciliatory statements, however, expectations are low that the U.S.-backed "road map" peace plan can be revived. Neither side appears closer to making concessions — a crackdown on militant groups by the Palestinians, a removal of dozens of settlement outposts by Israel.

Palestinian Prime Minister Ahmed Qureia convened his Cabinet for the first time Thursday, a day after it was sworn in following two months of political wrangling.

With a government finally in place, Qureia can focus on his priorities. He first wants to persuade militant groups to halt attacks on Israelis and then get Israel to agree to a truce, including a stop to military strikes in the West Bank and Gaza Strip.

In the past, Israeli Prime Minister Ariel Sharon has refused to halt such operations, including targeted killings of militants, unless the Palestinian security forces begin dismantling armed groups, something the Palestinians refuse to do.

Israel's position appears to have softened somewhat in recent days, and officials have said they want to give Qureia a chance.

In preparing for a summit, the Palestinians say they want to avoid the mistakes of their first premier, Mahmoud Abbas. He met four times with Sharon but failed to win concessions, including easing Israel's travel ban in the West Bank and Gaza Strip.

That failure, along with turf battles with Yasser Arafat, led to Abbas' resignation Sept. 6, after four months in office.

Qureia said Thursday he would meet Sharon only if he gets assurances that the travel bans would be eased significantly. A network of Israeli barriers, meant to keep away militants, has crippled the Palestinian economy. Even the Israeli army chief has said the closures are counterproductive, breeding hatred and more terrorism.

"If Israel respects our people and our president (Arafat) and lifts the siege and closure, I think the road will be open for this government to be successful," Qureia said after the Cabinet meeting. In a telephone call Thursday evening, Secretary of State Colin Powell told Qureia that Israeli-Palestinian meetings were important for progress on the "road map," Palestinian officials said.