Peretz: Israel will work to improve Palestinian lot

dpa German Press Agency
Published: Thursday October 5, 2006

Jerusalem- Israeli Defence Minister Amir Peretz on Thursday assured US Secretary of State Condoleezza Rice he would do everything necessary to improve living conditions in the Palestinian territories, Israeli media reported. Such measures would also help improve Israeli security, Peretz said.

On the possibility of the resumption of talks with Palestinian President Mahmoud Abbas, Peretz said the Israeli Government would have to wait and see how the situation in the Palestinian areas evolves.

He described the events of recent days in the West Bank and Gaza Strip, where fighting between Hamas and Fatah militants left at least 11 Palestinians dead, over Sunday and Monday, as "explosive."

Rice also held talks with her Israeli counterpart, Foreign Minister Tzipi Livni on Thursday after meeting late Wednesday with Prime Minister Ehud Olmert.

Olmert had during his meeting reiterated that the return of kidnapped Israeli soldier Corporal Gilad Shalit was a precondition for any release of Palestinian prisoners.

The Israeli premier also assured Rice that the Jewish state was prepared to strengthen the position of Mahmoud Abbas.

Rice had during a meeting with Abbas in the West Bank city of Ramallah pledged to seek measures from Israel aimed at improving the situation of the Palestinian people.

The United States has expressed concern at the current humanitarian situation facing the Palestinian Territories, under an international financial blockade since the militant Islamist Hamas movement's victory in January elections.

Abbas, for his part, said Wednesday he saw no opportunity for the formation of a unity government with the radical ruling Hamas movement given that Hamas showed no signs of readiness to accede to international demands to recognize Israel and past Israeli- Palestinian agreements.

He said he would give the talks two more weeks.

© 2006 dpa German Press Agency