West Bank ? Prodded by Britain’s visiting leader, the Israeli prime minister and Palestinian president said Sunday they are ready to resume contacts without conditions – a small step that many people hope could lead to resuming peace talks.

British Prime Minister Tony Blair also tried to draw Hamas into peace efforts, but the militant Islamic group that controls the Palestinian government rejected his condition that it first renounce violence and recognize Israel.

Despite Hamas’ tough stance, the readiness of Israeli Prime Minister Ehud Olmert and Palestinian President Mahmoud Abbas to meet was the first sign of movement in peacemaking in months.

“For the past months, the situation has gone backwards and not forwards,” Blair said at a news conference. But now, he added, “there is a window of opportunity, even if it does seem very bleak.”

Standing alongside the British leader in Ramallah, Abbas said he was prepared to sit down with Olmert. “We are ready immediately for serious negotiations to end the conflict,” Abbas said. “I am ready to meet Prime Minister Ehud Olmert without conditions.”