PM Holds First Call w/Palestinian Leader For First Time Since 2017

Israeli Prime Minister Yair Lapid has held a phone call with the President of the Palestinian National Authority Mahmoud Abbas. This is the first call between the leaders of Israel and the PNA since 2017, and comes ahead of US President Joe Biden's first trip to the region as president coming up 13-16 July.

• Biden is set to visit Israel, the West Bank, and Saudi Arabia on the four-day visit. Focus for US more on talks with Saudis on increasing oil supply rather than Israel, which the Biden administration has kept at arm's length compared to previous US presidents. Israel will be keen to gain US support on Iran with concerns in Israeli gov't about the Iran nuclear deal coming to fruition as well as Tehran's progress in its nuclear programme.
• In the call, which included Israeli President Isaac Herzog, Abbas congratulated Lapid on taking office while Lapid wished Abbas a happy Eid al Adha. They discussed ongoing cooperation and 'the need to maintain calm' following several incidents of violence between Palestinians and Israeli police in Jerusalem in recent months.
• Israel holds its fifth election in just over three years in November, with no sign of an end to the country's political deadlock. Neither the groups of parties in support of former PM Benjamin Netanyahu nor those opposed to his rule look likely to win a stable majority at present.