Visiting Israeli Prime Minister Ehud Olmert said on Monday that he has been exchanging ideas with the U.S. government that could allow positive developments regarding future negotiations between Israel and the Palestinians.

"There is an intensive dialogue between us and the U.S. that includes exchanging ideas and thoughts on ways to promote conditions that would allow negotiations with the Palestinians," Olmert told reporters in a briefing following his meeting with U.S. President George W. Bush at the White House.

The Israeli prime minister said he remained attached to the internationaly-backed "roadmap to peace" based on Bush's vision of a Palestinian state living side-by-side with Israel.

However, Olmert ruled out holding an international peace conference on the Israeli-Palestinian conflict, saying "There will be no international peace conference on the Palestinian issue that could replace direct negotiation" between Israel and the Palestinians.

"I don't consider a conference a convenient framework for negotiations," he said.

On Israel's ties with the Hamas-led Palestinian Authority, Olmert reiterated that the renewal of ties with the Palestinian government depends on its recognition of the Jewish state's right to exist and past accords, and renouncement of violence.

The Israeli premier also said that he is ready to meet moderate Palestinian president Mahmud Abbas, saying that "there are many things we can do to strengthen the moderates inside the Palestinian Authority."

Source: Xinhua