By JERUSALEM POST STAFF
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.