Abbas meets Hamas officials for first time since group's Gaza takeover

Palestinian Authority President Mahmoud Abbas has renewed contacts with Hamas, which were severed following the organization's violent takeover of the Gaza Strip in June of this year, Israel Radio reported. Abbas's office confirmed that he had met with three of Hamas's West Bank officials: Faraj Rumaneh, Hussein Abu Quaik and Nasser A-din al-Shaar, but gave no further details.