JERUSALEM, 12 January 2005 — Israeli Prime Minister Ariel Sharon called Mahmoud Abbas yesterday to congratulate him on winning the Palestinian presidential election, the latest sign that the two sides are eager to restart peace efforts after years of stalemate.
Since Abbas’ landslide victory on Sunday, Israel and the Palestinians have signaled their readiness to return to the negotiating table. The election, along with the formation of a new Israeli government that includes the dovish Labor Party, have raised hopes around the world that talks might soon resume.
Yesterday’s phone call, confirmed by Israeli and Palestinian officials, was the first direct contact between the two leaders since the election.
Sharon “congratulated him on his personal achievement and his victory in the elections and wished him luck,” said a statement issued by the prime minister’s office. “They agreed they would continue talking in the near future.”
Earlier yesterday, Sharon told his new Cabinet that he hoped to meet Abbas in the “near future.” He told the ministers the meeting would focus on security issues, especially efforts to “halt terrorism,” according to participants. Abbas is widely considered more moderate than his predecessor, Yasser Arafat, who died on Nov. 11 in a French hospital. Israel refused to negotiate with Arafat, accusing him of encouraging violence during the past four years of fighting between the two sides.
The last meeting between Israeli and Palestinian premiers was in August 2003, when Sharon met Abbas during his brief term as Palestinian prime minister.
Fresh from his victory, Abbas expressed hope late Monday that the sides will be able to return to the negotiating table.
“We extend our hands to our neighbors,” Abbas said. “We are ready for peace, peace based on justice. We hope that their response will be positive.”
Palestinian Prime Minister Ahmed Qorei said plans for the meeting were still in an early stage. “When the right time comes, we will go for a well-prepared meeting. We will not go just for a meeting, but for a useful one,” he said.
In another development, Palestinian National Security Adviser Jibril Rajoub resigned yesterday. In a statement, he said he was giving a chance to Abbas to appoint his own adviser, leaving open the possibility that he would resume the post.
Rajoub, one of the most powerful figures in the West Bank, was Arafat’s security adviser for the last year of his reign.
After shunning Arafat for the last four years, Israeli officials have said they are eager to get to work with Abbas.
A senior Israeli Defense Ministry official said yesterday that Israel is ready to hand over to the Palestinians security duties in West Bank cities. The official, speaking on condition of anonymity, said discussions with the Palestinians on the issue would likely begin in the coming days.
— With input from agencies
