Israeli Interior Minister and Vice Prime Minister Silvan Shalom held a secret meeting with chief Palestinian Authority negotiator Saeb Erekat. Photo: Itzike via Wikimedia Commons.

JNS.org – Israeli Interior Minister and Vice Prime Minister Silvan Shalom (Likud) held a secret meeting with chief Palestinian Authority negotiator Saeb Erekat in the Jordanian capital of Amman last week.

The purpose of the meeting was to discuss ways to renew the Israeli-Palestinian peace process, which has been stalled for more than a year. In addition to his ministerial and Knesset duties, Shalom is in charge of negotiations with the Palestinians.

An Israeli government official called the meeting between Shalom and Erekat a “very important trust-building step.” Additionally, a source involved in the matter said the closed-door, face-to-face meeting was held in a “positive atmosphere,” Israel Hayom reported.