Senior Israeli officials say prime minister-designate Ehud Olmert will likely meet with Palestinian President Mahmoud Abbas later this month.
They say the talks will probably take place after Mr. Olmert visits the United States to discuss his plan to withdraw from some isolated Israeli settlements in the West Bank while strengthening major settlement blocs there.
Mr. Olmert's government is to be sworn into office Thursday.
The last meeting between Mr. Abbas and an Israeli prime minister was in 2005 when he met with Ariel Sharon.
Israeli officials have said they will not hold negotiations with the Hamas-led Palestinian government.
Some information for this report was provided by AP and Reuters.