(Jpost).Israeli and Palestinian Cabinet ministers shared ideas on Wednesday for shoring up the fledgling Palestinian economic recovery, in the first high-level talks between the sides since Israeli Prime Minister Binyamin Netanyahu took office in March.
The meeting between Vice Prime Minister and Minister of Regional Cooperation Silvan Shalom and Palestinian Authority Economics Minister Bassim Khoury was the latest sign of a thaw in frosty relations. Last week, both sides said Palestinian Authority President Mahmoud Abbas would soon hold his first meeting with Netanyahu, despite Israel's refusal to freeze settlement construction.
The meeting Wednesday at the capital's King David hotel was the first Cabinet-level encounter between the Netanyahu and Abbas governments. The agenda included easing restrictions on the entry of Palestinian businesspeople and VIPs to Israel; boosting Israeli meat exports to the West Bank and dairy imports from the West Bank to Israel; and allowing more Palestinians to seek medical care in Israel, Israeli officials said.
Khoury and Shalom shook hands before closeting themselves in a meeting room at the hotel.
"Our objective is economic peace," Shalom told reporters. "That doesn't prevent political dialogue, but rather, assists and gives it momentum."
Khoury said he looked forward to the meeting and that the objective was to improve conditions for the Palestinians.
Teams of government officials from both sides were to join them later for a broader discussion.
Following the meeting, Shalom and Khoury agreed to continue the encounters on a monthly base.
The meeting between Vice Prime Minister and Minister of Regional Cooperation Silvan Shalom and Palestinian Authority Economics Minister Bassim Khoury was the latest sign of a thaw in frosty relations. Last week, both sides said Palestinian Authority President Mahmoud Abbas would soon hold his first meeting with Netanyahu, despite Israel's refusal to freeze settlement construction.
The meeting Wednesday at the capital's King David hotel was the first Cabinet-level encounter between the Netanyahu and Abbas governments. The agenda included easing restrictions on the entry of Palestinian businesspeople and VIPs to Israel; boosting Israeli meat exports to the West Bank and dairy imports from the West Bank to Israel; and allowing more Palestinians to seek medical care in Israel, Israeli officials said.
Khoury and Shalom shook hands before closeting themselves in a meeting room at the hotel.
"Our objective is economic peace," Shalom told reporters. "That doesn't prevent political dialogue, but rather, assists and gives it momentum."
Khoury said he looked forward to the meeting and that the objective was to improve conditions for the Palestinians.
Teams of government officials from both sides were to join them later for a broader discussion.
Following the meeting, Shalom and Khoury agreed to continue the encounters on a monthly base.