从哈马斯选举成功以来巴勒斯坦领导人马哈茂德-阿巴斯第一次会见以色列高级官员。阿巴斯与以色列副总理佩雷斯、外长利夫尼在世界经济论坛期间在埃及红海度假胜地会面……
Palestinian leader Mahmoud Abbas has met with top Israeli officials for the first time since Hamas won Palestinian elections earlier this year. Mr. Abbas held talks with the Israeli Vice Prime Minister Shimon Peres and Foreign Minister Tzipi Livni Sunday on the sidelines of the World Economic Forum, meeting in Egypt's Red Sea resort of Sharm el-Sheik. Mr. Peres says the talks took place in a good atmosphere.
"...very friendly, very open. We didn't come to commit ourselves. Neither did the Palestinians come to commit themselves. But as a preparation and an opening, and particularly on the economic side where we were more specific, I think it was useful."
Livni later said Israel is releasing 11 million dollars in frozen Palestinian taxes in a bid to head off humanitarian crisis in the West Bank in Gaza Strip. Israel stopped transferring more than 55 million dollars a month that collects on behalf of the Palestinians after the Hamas-led government took power. Meanwhile, Israeli Prime Minister Ehud Olmert is heading to the United States for his first meeting with President Bush since taking office earlier this month.
