MIDDLE EAST: The Israeli Prime Minister, Mr Ariel Sharon, telephoned Mr Mahmoud Abbas yesterday to congratulate him on winning the Palestinian presidential election.
The two are expected to meet in the coming weeks in what would be the first meeting between them since August 2003, the last time senior leaders from both sides met.
Mr Sharon congratulated Mr Abbas "on his personal achievement and his victory in the elections, and wished him success," a statement from the Prime Minister's Office said.
It also said the two men "agreed to continue their dialogue in the near future." The two are expected to meet after Mr Abbas has formed a new government.
At the first cabinet meeting yesterday of his new government, Mr Sharon told ministers that a meeting with Mr Abbas would focus on security matters, specifically Palestinian efforts to end attacks on Israel.
Rockets were fired again yesterday from the Gaza Strip at the southern Israeli town of Sderot, causing some damage to property but not injuring anyone.
The new Palestinian leader, who has reiterated his opposition to attacks on Israel, wants to ensure that a meeting with Mr Sharon yields more than a photo opportunity.
The last time that the two met 18 months ago was shortly before Mr Abbas resigned his post as Palestinian prime minister, in part due to his inability to extract any substantial concessions from Mr Sharon.
"When the right time comes, we will go for a well-prepared meeting," said the Palestinian Prime Minister, Mr Ahmed Qurei. "We will not go just for a meeting, but for a useful one," he added.