Abbas calls for talks with Israel

[Phx_Dem]

MOSCOW -- Palestinian President Mahmoud Abbas expressed hope Monday for a swift renewal of peace talks with Israel and prodded the new Hamas government to forgo violence against the Jewish state.

While appealing to both sides of the conflict on a day Palestinians set aside to mourn Israel's creation, Abbas expressed concern that the economic crisis in the Palestinian territories would deepen if not resolved soon.

"We expect the new Israeli government to enter into talks with us, as we are its partner and believe in a peaceful resolution," the ITAR-Tass and RIA-Novosti news agencies quoted Abbas as saying during a meeting with President Vladimir Putin.

In a separate speech broadcast on Palestinian radio and television, Abbas told Israel "we want to make a just and lasting peace with you."

"Let's sit at the negotiating table, away from the dictates and the unilateral policies, and let's stop the pretext that there's no Palestinian partner," he added. "The partner exists, and we extend our hand to you to make peace."

Abbas also signaled to the rival Hamas party that it, too, must pursue the path of diplomacy.

http://seattlepi.nwsource.com/national/1107AP_Russia_Abbas.html

[Phx_Dem]

1. It's about time Abbas acted like a leader......................nt