JERUSALEM, Sept. 11 (UPI) -- Palestinian leader Mahmoud Abbas, with Ramadan drawing to a close, made a round of phone calls related to the peace talks with Israel, Mideast media reported.
In a call before the Muslim holiday of Eid al-Fitr, which ends the Ramadan fast, Abbas, the Palestinian Authority president, updated Syrian ruler Bashar Assad on the talks and thanked him for his support "in this important period of history for the Palestinian people," The Jerusalem Post and Israeli Channel 10 reported, citing Wafa, the official Palestinian news agency.
Abbas also reportedly called American Middle East envoy George Mitchell Friday evening to discuss the talks now in progress.
Abbas on Thursday called Israeli President Shimon Peres and Prime Minister Binyamin Netanyahu with best wishes for Rosh Hashana, the Jewish New Year.
Abbas told Peres the Palestinians want an agreement with Israel and expressed hope Israelis "will be able to achieve a peace that will include all Arab nations," the Post reported.
Peres responded to Abbas, "No one is more fitting than you to achieve peace for your people and the entire region."
He also wished Abbas and Muslims well on Eid al-Fitr.
