Palestinian President Mahmoud Abbas speaks during an emergency meeting of the Fatah Central Committee and the PLO Executive Committee in the occupied West Bank City of Ramallah, on May 12, 2021. (ABBAS MOMANI / AFP)

RAMALLAH - Palestinian President Mahmoud Abbas on Tuesday night met with Israeli Defense Minister Benny Gantz to discuss how to create a political horizon that can lead to a political solution to the Israeli-Palestinian conflict.  

Palestinian President Mahmoud Abbas and Israeli Defense Minister Benny Gantz discussed "security and civilian issues," with Gantz stressing "the common interests" of Israel and the Palestinian Authority to strengthen their security coordination

The meeting, which took place at Gantz's house near Tel Aviv in central Israel, also discussed the tension caused by Israeli settlers and several economic, security, and humanitarian issues, Hussein al-Sheikh, Palestinian minister of civil affairs, tweeted.

The two discussed "security and civilian issues," with Gantz stressing "the common interests" of Israel and the Palestinian Authority to strengthen their security coordination, maintain stability and prevent terrorism and violence, Gantz's office said in a statement.

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Gantz informed Abbas that he wishes to continue "promoting confidence-building measures in the economic and civil fields," as agreed when the two met in August.

The meeting came as both sides seek to defuse escalating tensions in the West Bank and Gaza Strip.

Tension between the Palestinians and Israeli settlers has flared up over the past few weeks. Two Palestinians were killed, and hundreds were injured during clashes with Israeli soldiers in the West Bank.

Abbas and Gantz met on Aug 29 in the first high-level face-to-face meeting between the two sides in over a decade.