Mahmoud Abbas

Palestinian presidential candidate Mahmoud Abbas says he will seek a renewal of peace talks with Israel, if he is elected in the January 9 Palestinian election.

Mr. Abbas told the Israeli daily Maariv Thursday he would make the resumption of talks with Israel a top priority. He also criticized Israeli attacks on Palestinians and referred to militant attacks against Israeli targets as "counterproductive."

Violence continued in the Gaza Strip Thursday when Israeli soldiers shot and killed a Hamas gunman who infiltrated the Ganei Tal Jewish settlement in southern Gaza.

The military says soldiers shot the militant after he attacked an Israeli patrol. They say Israeli troops were searching for a second gunman.