Spanish PM meets Palestinian leader
Spanish prime minister Jose Luis Rodriguez Zapatero was to meet today with Palestinian leader Mahmoud Abbas to discuss new tensions between Israel and the Palestinians and other regional issues.
Abbas arrived in Madrid from France as part of a tour that will take him to Washington for talks with President George Bush tomorrow. Abbas was also expected to meet in Madrid with King Juan Carlos.
The Palestinian leader’s agenda with Zapatero is expected to include Israel’s suspension of contacts with the Palestinian Authority following two drive-by shootings over the weekend in which Palestinian gunmen killed three Israelis near West Bank settlements.
The two leaders are also expected to talk about Palestinian legislative elections scheduled for January and a summit next month in Barcelona between European Union heads of state or government and leaders of countries on the Mediterranean basin.
Abbas and Israeli leaders have been invited to attend the summit.
