The holiday spirit engulfed negotiations between Israel and the Palestinians, with both sides expressing eagerness for peace. A telephone call between new Prime Minister Binyamin Netanyahu and PA President Mahmoud Abbas was described as ‘warm.’ Even Netanyahu, regarded as a hawkish right-winger whose commitment to a two-state solution remains questionable, informed Abbas that he would cooperate towards a peace process.
The Pope also chimed in to urge a prompt and peaceful resolution to the decades-old struggle.