Abbas calls Netanyahu,PM says he will cooperate for Peace

Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu told Palestinian President Mahmoud Abbas on Sunday that he planned to cooperate with him in order to advance mutual peace efforts. Abbas called Netanyahu to extend holiday greetings for Passover , adding that "both sides needed to work for peace", according to a statement from the Prime Minister's Office. Netanyahu, whose right-leaning government took office on March 31, said "he intended to resume" talks and cooperation with the Palestinians for the sake of promoting peace, the statement said. Advertisement Israeli officials said this was the first contact between the two leaders since Netanyahu became prime minister for the second time. He last held the post from 1996 to 1999. Netanyahu "recalled their past cooperation and conversations, and how he intended to resume this in the future in order to advance peace", said the statement.