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Israeli Defence Minister said on Wednesday that he met with Palestinian President to strengthen economic and security ties.

The meeting, their second since Abbas hosted Gantz in August in the occupied West Bank city of , was held late on Tuesday at Gantz's home in Israel, Israel's public broadcaster Kan reported, theÌýfirst such trip for Abbas in more than a decade.

Palestinian official Hussein Al-Sheikh said the two discussed the "importance of creating a political horizon," for the solution of the decades-old Israel-PalestineÌýconflict, which has seenÌýTel Aviv maintain an illegal occupation of the West Bank and East Jerusalem and blockade of Gaza. The last round ofÌýtalks collapsed in 2014.

"We discussed the implementation of economic and civilian measures, and emphasized the importance of deepening security coordination and preventing terror and violence - for the well-being of both Israelis and Palestinians," Gantz said on Twitter.

Their talks mark the highest-level public meetings between Abbas and an Israeli minister since Israel's new government was formed in June.

But few see prospects for a resumption ofÌýtalks with Israel's coalition government headed by hawkish Prime Minister Naftali Bennett who opposes Palestinian statehood.

PalestiniansÌýseek an independent state in the West Bank and Gaza with a capital in East Jerusalem. The United Nations considers East JerusalemÌýto be occupied Palestinian land.ÌýIsraelÌýannexed East Jerusalem decades ago in an unlawful move which is unrecognised internationally.

Palestinians have limited self-rule in parts of the West Bank, though in practice Israel frequently violates this arrangement. Though Israel pulled out of Gaza in 2005, since 2007 it hasÌýmaintainedÌýa crushing blockadeÌýon the Strip, which is now controlled by Islamist militant group Hamas.

Hamas, which has fought several warsÌýwith Israel, condemned the Abbas-Gantz talks.

In May, Israel launched a deadly 11-day bombing campaign against Gaza, . Meanwhile, rocket fire from Hamas and other Gaza militants .

(Reuters)