Palestinian Authority President Mahmoud Abbas plans to ask Prime Minister Ehud Olmert to maintain the cease-fire with Hamas when the two men meet in Jerusalem on Monday. Speaking to reporters, Abbas said that continued fighting between Israel and Hamas will just make the living conditions of Gazas residents even worse. At the same time, Abbas called on the factions in the Gaza Strip to show restraint and not to give Israeli forces "excuses" to respond. 11/16/08
