Palestinian President Mahmoud Abbas said on Sunday that he is ready to meet with Israeli Prime Minister Ehud Olmert to revive peace talks, echoing a statement issued by Olmert the previous day.

Abbas expressed a willingness to hold negotiations after meeting with British Prime Minister Tony Blair in the West Bank city of Ramallah, saying his Fatah party is serious about putting together a national unity government "to put an end to the siege imposed on us."

British Prime Minister Tony Blair, left, walks with Palestinian Authority President Mahmoud Abbas after his arrival for their meeting at Abbas' office in the West Bank town of Ramallah on Sunday.
(Emilio Morenatti/Associated Press)

Abbas was referring to international sanctions imposed after Hamas secured a surprise victory in the Palestinian Authority election in January, ousting the long-dominant Fatah party. The sanctions have left the Hamas-led government unable to pay civil servants for months.

During talks with his British counterpart on Saturday, Olmert said he "stands fully" ready to meet with Abbas without prior conditions such as the release of Cpl. Gilad Shalit, an Israeli soldier being held captive by militants with links to Hamas. Abbas and Olmert have not met since June, when Shalit was captured.

During his visit to Ramallah, Blair said the international community should restore contacts with the Palestinian government if Hamas forms a unity government and accepts demands outlined by the Quartet of Middle East peace brokers.

The Quartet, consisting of the United States, European Union, United Nations and Russia, wants Hamas to renounce violence, recognize Israel and accept previous peace agreements with the Jewish state.

The European Union and the United States froze all direct financial aid to the Palestinian government after Hamas formed a government in March.

Blair sees window of opportunity'

Blair said despite a series of setbacks in the Middle East in the past several months, he believes there is now a "window of opportunity" to try to work toward peace once again.

"I believe that such a government, based on the Quartet requirements, does offer the possibility of re-engagement by the international community," Blair said.

A spokesman for the Hamas-led Palestinian government, Sami Abu Zuhri, said Sunday his group is ready to form a coalition government with the Fatah party run by Abbas, but "not according to the standards that are dictated."