Sharon congratulates Abbas as hopes of peace talks rise

Ramit Plushnick-Masti, Jerusalem

Since Mr Abbas's landslide victory on Sunday, Israel and the Palestinians have signalled their readiness to return to the negotiating table. The election, along with the formation of a new Israeli government that includes the dovish

Labor Party, have raised hopes around the world that talks might soon resume.

Yesterday's phone call, confirmed by Israeli and Palestinian officials, was the first direct contact between the two leaders since the election.

Mr Sharon "congratulated him on his personal achievement and his victory in the elections and wished him luck", said a statement issued by the prime minister's office. "They agreed they would continue talking in the near future."

Earlier yesterday, Mr Sharon told his new cabinet that he hoped to meet Mr Abbas in the "near future." He told the ministers the meeting would focus on security issues, especially efforts to "halt terrorism", according to participants.

Mr Abbas is widely considered more moderate than his predecessor, Yasser Arafat, who died on November 11 in France.