Israeli Prime Minister Yair Lapid and President Isaac Herzog held separate calls with Palestinian President Mahmoud Abbas on Friday, which followed a meeting between Abbas and Israeli Defense Minister Benny Gantz in the occupied West Bank on Thursday.
In the first such known call between the Palestinian leader and an Israeli premier in years, Lapid and Abbas discussed “continued cooperation and the need to ensure quiet and calm,” according to Lapid, who last week became caretaker premier ahead of a Nov. 1 snap election.
The last such call took place in 2017, when Abbas spoke to then-Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu after an attack at the Temple Mount in Jerusalem.
Abbas underscored the importance of breaking the political stalemate and halting the occupation measures, especially mass arrests, killings and settlements.
He stressed that these actions only lead to tension and hamper efforts to establish normal ties.
Palestinian sources said that Abbas described the past year’s incidents as “tragic,” calling for security and civil coordination to ensure calm as this can’t be achieved unilaterally.
Lapid extended his best wishes to Abbas and the Palestinian people on the occasion of the Eid Al-Adha holiday, while Abbas congratulated Lapid for taking office.
According to an Israeli official, the United States prompted talks between Abbas and Lapid, asking them to seek calm ahead of US president Joe Biden’s upcoming visit to the Middle East region.
The official ruled out any visit between the two sides soon “for their best,” explaining that such a visit will be exploited by Netanyahu in his electoral campaign.
Herzog also called Abbas to extend his congratulations on the occasion of Eid al-Adha.
Palestinian sources said talks focused on preparations for Biden’s visit.
Separately, Gantz held a two-hour meeting with Abbas in Ramallah on Thursday.
The two discussed various security issues, as well as Biden's visit.
Biden is visiting the Middle East on July 13-16.
Gantz said on Twitter that the two “agreed to maintain close security coordination and to avoid actions that may cause instability.”
Abbas, for his part, underlined the need to create a political horizon, respect signed agreements and stop actions and measures that lead to the deterioration of the situation.
