Vatican cautiously optimistic about change in Palestinian leadership

Published: 2005-01-24

VATICAN CITY (CNS) -- Vatican officials are cautiously optimistic that the change in Palestinian leadership may open the door to meaningful Israeli-Palestinian peace negotiations. Israeli officials in Rome echoed those hopes, saying that a "total change in Palestinian strategy" had brought a spirit of hope to the region. An informed Vatican official said the election of Mahmoud Abbas as president of the Palestinian Authority in January marked the start of "a new reality" that, so far, appears promising. "Certainly, this is a period in which new opportunities are presenting themselves. Not everything is clear yet, and Israelis and Palestinians need time to sit down and outline their positions. But both sides are showing a sincere desire to take advantage of this new situation," the official said Jan. 20. The official praised Abbas' immediate efforts to control violence among radical Palestinian groups in Gaza and elsewhere.

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