Jerusalem - Israeli caretaker Prime Minister Ehud Olmert and Palestinian President Mahmoud Abbas met in Jerusalem Monday, with a collapsing Gaza truce high on their agenda.

The two leaders have been meeting regularly since they revived Israeli-Palestinian peace negotiations for the first time in seven years at an international summit in Annapolis, Maryland, a year ago.

At the summit, they set out to reach a deal by the year's end, but

meeting that deadline became increasingly unlikely after Olmert resigned in September to fight corruption allegations, paving the way for early elections in Israel in February.

Olmert's insistence to postpone a final settlement on the highly sensitive issue of Jerusalem has also led to stalemate in the talks.

The Israeli leader, who now heads a transitional government, has vowed to continue the talks, despite widespread criticism among leading members of both the Israeli opposition and coalition, who say he lacks the legitimacy to do so. (dpa)