Top Israelis Meet With Palestinian Leader

Foreign Minister Tzipi Livni, Olmert's chief deputy, and Vice Premier Shimon Peres spoke with Mahmoud Abbas, the Palestinian Authority's president, for 30 minutes at the World Economic Forum on the Middle East. Afterward, Livni said the U.S.-backed peace strategy known as the "road map" was "still relevant."

"I could feel the warmth between the president and the ministers. I was very encouraged," said Saeb Erekat, the chief Palestinian negotiator, who attended the meeting.

(from Washington Post, May 22)