The Palestinian and Israeli prime ministers are due to meet on Saturday evening for what would be the highest-level talks between the two sides for more than two years. It would also be the first meeting between Ariel Sharon and Mahmoud Abbas, also known as Abu Mazen, since the new Palestinian prime minister took office last month. They are to discuss the new peace plan known as the roadmap, in the face-to-face talks which look set to take place having been long planned and several times delayed. But doubts still run deep on both sides. The Israelis want Abu Mazen to act against Palestinian intifada. Dore Gold, an adviser to Sharon, said: "Unfortunately Yasser Arafat's presence hovers over this meeting. The point is we need to see first steps that are taken. And there are no first steps that have been taken and I imagine both Prime Minister Sharon and Abu Mazen will outline their respective requirements, their needs, their demands of one another. "But again, as long as Yasser Arafat is hovering over this process and giving instructions for continuing attacks, it's going to be very hard for Abu Mazen to move forward, no matter how flexible Israel is." **Erekat Resignation Offer*** Abu Mazen faces a deepening split in his cabinet between Arafat loyalists and his own followers. Although the Israelis and the Americans want Mr Arafat left out of the peace process, Abu Mazen's chief negotiator, Saeb Erekat, is close to Arafat. He has now tendered his resignation after being told he would not be included in the team to meet Sharon. He may well end up staying on, but that could mean Abu Mazen has to keep Arafat in the loop. Irrespective of the internal Palestinian power struggle, Abu Mazen can do little to end the cycle of violence until Israel drops its reservations and formally accepts the roadmap. **Israeli Aggression*** Michael Tarazi, a legal adviser to the Palestinian negotiators, said: "Since the roadmap has been issued, it's Israel that has killed more than 40 Palestinian civilians, not the other way around. "But it's really a question not of implementation right now. All we're asking for is that Israel publicly accept the roadmap. "That would give the Palestinians enough to go back to the Palestinian people with and say 'OK, now we're going to take our steps so that Israel can start taking its steps'." Tarazi said the Palestinian side was prepared to do that. "But if Israel hasn't even accepted the roadmap we will simply look as though we are security sub-contractors to the Israeli occupation and we cannot afford to be seen that way." So it still looks like something of a stalemate, at least for now. If the talks between Abu Mazen and Sharon do go ahead, nothing short of a breakthrough will lessen the scepticism on both sides. **PHOTO CAPTION*** Palestinian Prime Minister Mahmoud Abbas, right, gestures during a cabinet meeting in Gaza City, Saturday, May 17, 2003. (AP Photo/Ricardo Mazalan)