Abbas Win, New Sharon Team Boost Peace Hopes
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RAMALLAH, West Bank  - Middle East peace hopes  were boosted on Monday when Mahmoud Abbas was elected  Palestinian president and Israel's parliament backed Ariel  Sharon's new coalition to implement his planned Gaza pullout.
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Israeli Prime Minister Ariel Sharon called Mahmoud Abbas on Tuesday to congratulate him for winning the Palestinian presidential elections, the latest sign that the two sides are eager to restart peace efforts after years of stalemate.
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Israeli Prime Minister Ariel Sharon has sounded a note of optimism about peace prospects in the coming year provided Palestinians stop violence against Israel.
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Israeli Prime Minister Ariel Sharon  phoned Mahmoud Abbas Tuesday to congratulate him on his  election as Palestinian president and offer cooperation, the  highest-level contact between the sides in nearly four years.
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A meeting between Israel's defense minister and a top Palestinian security official Saturday went well, Israeli officials said, as the two sides try to reconcile widely differing expectations for an upcoming summit between Prime Minister Ariel Sharon and Palestinian leader Mahmoud Abbas.
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JERICHO, West Bank Mahmoud Abbas, the Palestinian leader and front-runner in upcoming presidential elections, received a warm welcome on Tuesday from thousands of supporters at his first public rally.
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Israeli leader Ariel Sharon said on Thursday conditions were right for a "historic breakthrough" on Middle East peace after measures taken by new Palestinian President Mahmoud Abbas to bring calm.
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RAMALLAH, West Bank  - Mahmoud Abbas won election  as Palestinian president by a landslide on Sunday, securing a  strong mandate to talk peace with Israel after years of  bloodshed and to end corruption at home.
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Israeli leader Ariel Sharon said on  Thursday conditions were right for a "historic breakthrough" on  Middle East peace after measures taken by new Palestinian  President Mahmoud Abbas to bring calm.
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Interim Palestinian leader Mahmoud Abbas, the front-runner in upcoming presidential elections, received a loud ovation from thousands of supporters at his first public rally Tuesday, generating some excitement for the low-key politician seeking to replace
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HOPES of progress towards Middle East peace rose last night after Israel and the Palestinian Authority backed Tony Blairâs call for a London conference that could be a step towards the opening of negotiations on a final settlement.
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The victory of Mahmoud Abbas in Palestinian elections raised hopes on Monday for reviving talks with Israel after the relative moderate won a landslide in the vote to succeed Yasser Arafat.
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PLO Chairman Mahmoud Abbas (Abu Mazen) on Sunday renewed his pledge to honor Yasser Arafat&#39;s legacy by working to establish a Palestinian state with Jerusalem as its capital alongside Israel.
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A new cease-fire and a strikingly conciliatory speech by Israel's prime minister are raising hopes for progress in Mideast peacemaking.
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JERUSALEM, ISRAEL - Israeli Prime Minister Ariel Sharon and interim Palestinian leader Mahmoud Abbas have said they&#39;re willing to meet and try to revive the stalled peace &quot;road map.
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-- Interim Palestinian leader Mahmoud Abbas, the front-runner in coming presidential elections, re ceived a loud ovation from thousands of supporters at his first public rally Tuesday, generating some excitement for the low-key politician seeking to
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JERUSALEM -- Prime Minister Ariel Sharon called Mahmoud Abbas yesterday to congratulate him for his landslide victory in an election to replace Yasser Arafat, signaling Israel's readiness to work with the new Palestinian team after years of boycotting Arafat.