Forum Talks Focus on Mideast Dialogue

Palestinian President Mahmoud Abbas, left, talks with Israeli Foreign Minister Tzipi Livni during a symposium at the World Economic Forum in the Red Sea resort of Sharm El-Sheikh, Egypt Sunday, May 21, 2006. Abbas on Sunday said the raging power-struggle between Palestinian factions must not deteriorate into civil war. (AP Photo/Nasser Nasser) (Nasser Nasser - AP)

Lebanese Prime Minister Fuad Saniora said the dialogue among his country's feuding political factions could be used as an example for other Arabs. Yet the talks have failed to produce accords on other major contentious issues.

Saniora did not talk about his government's virulently anti-Syrian stance and the deep split between his supporters and those allied to Syria, which kept its army in Lebanon for nearly 30 years before withdrawing last year under heavy international and domestic Lebanese pressure.

Meanwhile, the Palestinian president met on the fringes of the conference with Israeli Foreign Minister Tzipi Livni and Vice Premier Shimon Peres. Abbas said he told Livni that the two sides must restore regular contact and work toward resuming peace talks.

Israeli officials said the two discussed preparations for a summit between Abbas and Israeli Prime Minister Ehud Olmert once Olmert returns from a trip to Washington.

The Israeli-Palestinian conflict also took up discussion time elsewhere at the conference.

Explaining the U.S. financial boycott of the Hamas government, Sen. Gordon Smith, R-Ore., said that while America respects elections, "we disagree with the policy of exterminating political opposition and exterminating one's neighbor and don't feel an obligation to support financially those kind of policies."

Hamas has rejected U.S. and European demands to renounce violence and accept the right of Israel to exist.

The Arab League's secretary-general, Amr Moussa, defended the Hamas-led government.

"Have we given this government a chance?" he asked. "From day one they are under siege, blocked, attacked, no money should be transferred to them. Just put yourself in their place."