Abbas commends Paz-Pines for leaving minister post

By GIL STERN STERN HOFFMAN
Palestinian Authority President Mahmoud Abbas met in Ramallah Sunday with Labor MK Ophir Paz-Pines and praised him for leaving his post as Science, Culture and Sport minister last week. Abbas, who resigned as prime minister only to return as president, told him that from his experience quitting a post out of principle pays off. Abbas said he is determined to bring forth a government of professionals, instead of politicians, and that he will do whatever he can in order to bring about the release of Gilad Shalit.. Paz-Pines said that more confidence building measures on the part of the Palestinians are needed to restart diplomatic negotiations.