[Asharq Al-Awsat] When was the last contact between you and the Israelis?
[Abbas] It was during the era of Ehud Olmert (the last negotiations between Abbas and Olmert were in December).
[Asharq Al-Awsat] I mean contacts such as the telephone contact that took place between you and Israeli Defense Minister Ehud Baraq last December in which you conveyed to him your preparedness to resume the negotiations if Netanyahu were to halt the settlement activities without announcing it?
[Abbas] We talked to Baraq by telephone. I talked to him more than once, Prime Minister (Salam Fayyad) saw him more than once, and I think Saeb Erekat met him more than once.
[Asharq Al-Awsat] Have you contacted him after the December contacts about which you talked to Asharq Al-Awsat?
[Abbas] No, no such contacts between him and me have taken place.
[Asharq Al-Awsat] Have any contacts taken place between him and ministers?
[Abbas] The prime minister and the ministers can meet him."
