Israel Matzav

Former prime minister and current Kadima candidate for the Knesset Shimon Peres met in secret with Palestinian Authority Chairman Mahmoud Abbas on Sunday, Channel 2 reported on Monday.

According to the report, Peres had apparently asked for and received permission to conduct the meeting from Acting Prime Minister Ehud Olmert.

He reportedly told Olmert the meeting would be limited to economic issues only, [If you believe that, I have a bridge to sell you. CiJ] and reported back to the acting prime minister after returning Sunday afternoon from the meeting's venue in the Jordanian capital of Amman.

A Peres spokesman would neither confirm nor deny the report. [That's about as close to a confirmation as you can get. CiJ]

The meeting flies in the face of Kadima's declared policy of not meeting with any representatives of a Hamas-controlled Palestinian Authority. [If I were the Likud, I would get pictures of that meeting and put them all over my campaign ads. Shades of 1996. CiJ]

Last week, Abbas endorsed Olmert for the upcoming elections.