Palestinian President Mahmoud Abbas called Israel’s new prime minister, Ehud Olmert, on Friday and urged him to resume peace talks. Abbas placed the call a day after Olmert and his new center-left government were sworn in. “President Abbas called Mr. Olmert, congratulated him on the formation of the new Cabinet and offered to resume the partnership between the two sides and to resume negotiations,” said Saeb Erekat, the chief Palestinian negotiator. Full Story