Ariel Sharon: Meeting with Abbas expected in near future

Prime Minister Ariel Sharon spoke to Palestinian leader Mahmoud Abbas on Sunday, and the two men agreed to hold a summit soon, Sharon's office said.

Sharon and Abbas had been tentatively scheduled to meet Sunday, but the summit was canceled after Israel launched an offensive against Palestinian militants last week.

In a statement, Sharon's office said the two leaders "agreed to tighten cooperation and to work together to advance the peace process." As a result, they will meet soon, it said. It did not provide a date for the meeting, AP reports.

Abbas called Sharon to convey the Israeli leader best wishes for the Jewish new year, which begins at sundown Monday. Sharon also sent his greetings ahead of the Muslim holy month of Ramadan.