As soon as Defense Minister Benny Gantz returned from his meeting with Palestinian President Mahmoud Abbas in Ramallah late on Aug. 29, his staff notified the country’s political reporters about that unusual event.
Over a decade had passed since a senior Israeli official met with the Palestinian leader. It was, therefore, important for Gantz to show that he was spearheading a change in policy from within the government. He could have decided, of course, that the meeting would be kept secret, but he actually wanted the public to know about it. What made the meeting so important was the fact that it was held at all. So the meeting was reported extensively and rightfully evoked great interest.
