A Year Ago Today at IsraelNationalNews.com

Prime Minister Ehud Olmert met with Palestinian Authority (PA) Chairman Mahmoud Abbas in Jerusalem at the same time the PA has agreed to proceed in renewing negotiations with Hamas. The Olmert administration previously has said it would not negotiate with Abbas if his Fatah faction were to renew contacts with Hamas. The Prime Minister's office "rejected" the Hamas-Fatah move but did not explain what steps the government would take.

--Public Security Minister Avi Dichter (Kadima) charged fellow party member, Vice Prime Minister Chaim Ramon for leading a minority view by trying to finalize a plan that would divide Jerusalem. "He has no majority in Kadima, the government or the Knesset," the Public Affairs Minister said.

--Minister of National Infrastructure Binyamin (Fouad) Ben-Eliezer (Labor) said that the unilateral withdrawal from Gaza, also known as the Disengagement, was a mistake. Israel should not make unilateral moves in the future, he said.

Two Years Ago at IsraelNationalNews.com

Defense Minister Amir Peretz told United States Secretary of State Condoleezza Rice that "the release of soldier Gilad Shalit is the key to advance any future talks with the [PA Arabs]."