Israel considers gestures to Abbas, Lieberman wants him to resign

Israel's military leaders believe a series of gestures should be made to the Palestinian Authority to strengthen Palestinian President Mahmoud Abbas. The report comes amid calls by Israel's Foreign Minister for Abbas to resign saying he is the greatest obstacle to regional order and should be removed from power immediately. The army's General Staff plans to submit to the government next month a series of gestures it recommends be carried out including releasing additional Palestinian prisoners, possibly transferring additional areas in Judea and Samaria to Palestinian security control. The steps are designed at boosting Abbas' position weakened by the Egyptian mediated deal with Hamas and Israel that led to the return of Gilad Shalit. A number of government ministers and advisers to Prime Minister Binyamin Netanyahu believe Abbas should be punished for the statehood bid he made before the United Nations last month.