Abbas: Despite turmoil, peace talks should resume

Palestinian Authority Chairman Mahmoud Abbas said that despite the recent turmoil in the Gaza Strip, peace talks with Israel should resume. "The atmosphere is not preventing a start to negotiations," he said. "We hope international community will contribute, along with "Quartet" (of Mideast mediators), to convene an international peace conference that can lead to negotiations between the Palestinians and Israel," Abbas said in a speech in Ramallah Wednesday evening.