Zapatero talks to Mahmud Abbas and Ehud Olmert

Zapatero talks to Mahmud Abbas and Ehud Olmert
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By h.b. - Jan 9, 2009 - 7:08 AM

Spanish Prime Minister, José Luis Rodríguez Zapatero, talking to the press after meeting with Mahmud Abbas yesterday - Photo EFE

The Palestinian leader was on a visit to Madrid and Zapatero held a 25 minute phone call after with the Israeli Prime Minister.

Spanish Prime Minister, José Luis Rodríguez Zapatero, has told the Israeli Prime Minister, Ehud Olmert, of the disposition of Spain to help in any way in the search for peace in Gaza.

The two leaders held a 25 minute telephone conversation last night after Zapatero had welcomed the President of the Palestinian Authority and AL Fatah leader, Abu Mazen (Mahmud Abbas), to Madrid. Zapatero said that direct contacts with Hamas had to be established to end the violence, and Abu Mazen said he would be postponing the calling of Palestinian elections until there was ‘reconciliation’.

Zapatero offered Abbas the ‘commitment and solidarity’ of the Spanish people and announced a new donation of 5 million € for humanitarian aid to be channelled through the United Nations Refugee Program.

Zapatero conveyed to Olmert his impressions after meeting with the Palestinian leader, and said that Spain was prepared to take on ‘an important role’ in the region. Government sources say that Zapatero and Olmert analysed the previous plan suggested by Egypt and France, even though that was later rejected by Hamas. Zapatero described the conversation as ‘cordial and constructive’.

In this context, the Spanish Prime Minister said that a cease fire was the way forward, a cease fire which must be real and guarantee the security of both Gaza and Isreal.

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