Palestinian PM holds Israel talks

Israeli Foreign Minister Tzipi Livni has met the Palestinian Prime Minister, Salam Fayyad, for the first time since Mr Fayyad took office last month.

The meeting in Jerusalem is seen as a gesture of support for moderate Palestinian leader Mahmoud Abbas.

Israeli and Arab officials meanwhile said an Arab League delegation will go to Israel for the first time this week.

The visit will focus on an Arab peace initiative and ways to help the beleaguered Palestinian Authority.

Israel rejected the Saudi-led peace plan when it was launched in 2002 but gave some aspects a cautious welcome when it was endorsed by moderate Arab states earlier this year.

Prisoner release

An Israeli statement issued after Ms Livni's meeting with Mr Fayyad said: "The discussion dealt primarily with the situation in the Palestinian Authority [PA] and the ways of improving the lives of the residents in the territories while preserving Israeli security interests."

An official in Mr Fayyad's office said the meeting dealt with "broader political issues, not just removing a checkpoint here and there".

On Sunday, the Israeli cabinet approved plans for releasing 250 Palestinian prisoners.

The BBC's Bethany Bell in Jerusalem says the increased diplomacy is a sign of improving relations between Israel and the new Palestinian cabinet.

It comes three weeks after the Palestinian militant group Hamas seized control of the Gaza Strip, which split the Palestinian territories into two separately controlled entities.

PA President Mahmoud Abbas dissolved the elected Hamas-led government after the takeover and appointed Mr Fayyad as prime minister in an emergency cabinet.

West Bank death

The US and Israel have offered strong support for Mr Abbas - as has the Arab League.

The organisation is expected to send Egyptian Foreign Minister Ahmed Abul Gheit and his Jordanian counterpart Abd-al-Ilah al-Khatib to Israel.

"This is the first time the Arab League is coming to Israel," Israeli Foreign Ministry spokesman Mark Regev said.

"From its inception the Arab League has been hostile to Israel. It will be the first time we'll be flying the Arab League flag."

Meanwhile Israeli forces reportedly killed a member of the Palestinian militant group, Islamic Jihad, in the West Bank.

The man, Mahmud Nazal, was shot dead as he was driving his car near the town of Jenin, Palestinian hospital officials said.