Israeli Prime Minister Mr Ariel Sharon sent Palestinian President Mr Yasser Arafat a letter saying he hoped for personal contacts to renew peacemaking and end violence.
Mr Sharon's office quoted him as saying in the letter: "I hope that we will find a way to conduct personal contacts already in the near future in order to put an end to the cycle of bloodshed, hatred and incitement, and to renew security and economic co-operation on the way towards achieving true peace."
Mr Sharon's note was in response to a congratulatory letter from Mr Arafat after he took office as Israel's Prime Pinister on Wednesday. He heads a seven-party coalition.