Palestinian President Mahmoud Abbas  (L) and Israeli Defense Minister Benny Gantz, (R). (Photo: Reuters/VNA)

This is the first phone conversation between President Mahmoud Abbas and Prime Minister Yair Lapid since Lapid took office last week. At the phone call, the two leaders discussed continued cooperation and emphasized the need to ensure stability and peace.

On Thursday, President Abbas received the Israeli Defense Minister in the West Bank city of Ramallah. The talks focused on calming tensions and coordinating security ahead of the planned visit by US President Joe Biden next week. The US President will hold talks with the Prime Minister of Israel and the President of Palestine before visiting Saudi Arabia.