Abbas: Israel should respond to Arab initiative

Palestinian Authority Chairman Mahmoud Abbas on Sunday called on Israel "to take constructive steps" in response to a new Arab peace initiative. "I call on the Israeli government to take constructive steps to answer the peace initiative put forward by Arab countries," Abbas said at a news conference with visiting German Chancellor Angela Merkel. Standing next to Abbas, Merkel called on Palestinians to release IDF kidnapped soldier Gilad Schalit.