Israeli Defence Minister meets Palestinian President Abbas

dpa Tel Aviv Israeli Defence Minister Benny Gantz has met Palestinian President Mahmoud Abbas for a rare high-level meeting between the two sides. They spo...

dpaTel AvivIsraeli Defence Minister Benny Gantz has met Palestinian President Mahmoud Abbas for a rare high-level meeting between the two sides.They spoke about a range of civilian and security topics, a Defence Ministry spokesperson said Wednesday.Israeli media reported that Gantz received Abbas at his home in Rosh Haayin, east of Tel Aviv, on Tuesday evening. The two politicians previously met in August.At the latest talks, Gantz informed Abbas of his intention to “continue advancing confidence-building measures in economic and civilian areas.” After the talks, Gantz approved measures including recognising the status of 6,000 Palestinians in the West Bank and 3,500 Palestinians in the Gaza Strip on a humanitarian basis, the ministry said.Around 32 million dollars’ worth of tax payments previously withheld by Israel will be forwarded to the Palestinian Authority and another 500 business people will receive car entry permits to Israel, according to the ministry.Palestinians have attacked Israelis in the Israeli-occupied West Bank and East Jerusalem several times over the last few weeks. There have also been increased reports of violent attacks by Israeli settlers on Palestinian residents.US-mediated peace talks between the two sides have been stalled since 2014. After the US transfer of power in January, Abbas expressed a willingness to restart the Middle East peace process with the goal of establishing an independent Palestinian state.Israel’s Prime Minister Naftali Bennett, of the ultra-right Jamina party, is opposed to a Palestinian state. He does however want to reduce conflict and improve living conditions in the West Bank.Israel conquered the West Bank and East Jerusalem in 1967. The Palestinians want the territories for their own state of Palestine with East Jerusalem as its capital.