Israeli Defense Minister Hold First High-level Talks with Palestine
Israel's defense minister held talks with the Palestinian president in the first high-level meeting between the two sides in years. The meeting between Benny Gantz and Mahmoud Abbas signaled a possible shift of direction after the complete breakdown of communication between Abbas and Israeli leaders in recent years. This communication gap came primarily under the leadership of Israeli Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu. Backed by former U.S. President Donald Trump, Netanyahu pursued a hard-line policy toward the Palestinians. During their actions, he approved pro-Israeli policies such as moving the U.S. Embassy in Israel from Tel Aviv to contested Jerusalem. Abbas halted most contacts with the U.S. and Israel during those years after seeing the cold in communication. A White House issued a statement saying Biden reiterated to Bennett his support for a two-state solution to the Israeli-Palestinian conflict and underscored the importance of steps to improve the lives of Palestinians. ...