AN ISRAELI and Palestinian minister held talks in Jerusalem yesterday, marking the first official bilateral contacts since Benjamin Netanyahu became Israel’s prime minister in March.
The talks between Israel’s vice prime minister and minister of regional co-operation Silvan Shalom and Palestinian Authority economics minister Bassem Khoury, focused on easing the day-to-day life for Palestinians in the West Bank.
Until now the Palestinian leadership have frozen contacts, insisting that Israel must first declare a freeze on building at West Bank Jewish settlements.
The Obama administration has been engaged in intensive diplomacy aimed at finding a formula acceptable to both sides in order to relaunch peace negotiations.
Yesterday’s talks at a Jerusalem hotel came just hours before US Middle East envoy George Mitchell held further discussions in Washington with two Israeli officials, and are an indication that a breakthrough to end the diplomatic impasse may be close.
The two ministers discussed granting visas to Palestinian businesspeople, the export of milk products from the West Bank to Israel, and medical treatment for Palestinians in Israel.
In addition, Mr Khoury asked Israel to ease the restrictions on the transport of goods in and out of the Hamas-controlled Gaza Strip, which remains under a strict Israeli blockade.
The Palestinian minister expressed the hope that the talks will lead to real changes in the West Bank.
“We hope it will not only be words but there will also be some actions on the ground as well so we can really see the end of these measures that are stifling the growth of the Palestinian economy,” he said.
Mr Shalom said the aim is “economic peace”, repeating the phrase often used by Mr Netanyahu. “That doesn’t prevent political dialogue, but rather, assists and gives it momentum,” he explained.
The two men agreed to meet at least every six weeks and to set up joint teams to monitor implementation of measures agreed to.
Economic activity has picked up recently in the West Bank as the American-trained Palestinian Authority security forces exerted control and restored law and order in towns and refugee camps once controlled by militant militias.