Israel's secret meeting with Palestinian leader
Israel’s Shimon Peres has met secretly with Palestinian leader Mahmoud Abbas in Jordan, the prime minister’s office confirmed today.
Peres is a senior member of the centrist Kadima Party of acting Prime Minister Ehud Olmert, the front-runner in March 28 elections.
The Peres-Abbas meeting took place yesterday with Olmert’s permission, government officials said.
Olmert has said he had no intention of meeting with Abbas, who last month asked the Islamic militant Hamas to form the next Palestinian government, in the wake of Hamas’ election victory.
However, Olmert has also distanced himself from statements by his foreign minister, Tzipi Livni, that the moderate Abbas has become irrelevant.
The Peres-Abbas meeting apparently was meant to attract the support of moderate voters. Peres is a former leader of the centre-left Labour Party and an architect of interim peace deals with the Palestinians.
Olmert’s office said the meeting dealt only with economic affairs.
However, Israel TV’s Channel Two said other issues were discussed as well.
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