JERUSALEM, May 5 — The Palestinian Authority president, Mahmoud Abbas, urged Israel to start peace negotiations when he telephoned the new prime minister, Ehud Olmert, on Friday to congratulate him on formally taking office.
The two men are expected to meet this month after Mr. Olmert returns from Washington, where he is likely to seek support for his plans to draw borders with the West Bank. Israel has ruled out peace negotiations with Mr. Abbas while the Palestinian Authority, run by Hamas, the militant Islamic group, refuses to recognize Israel or renounce violence.
Mr. Olmert, who had been the acting prime minister since Ariel Sharon had a stroke in January, formally took office on Thursday and said he was prepared to set Israel's boundaries during his government's four-year term.
In a move that could further damage peace prospects for the region, however, an Israeli airstrike killed five Palestinians in the Gaza Strip, Reuters reported Friday.
The Israeli military said the strike had been on a training camp used by the Popular Resistance Committees, a group of militants responsible for many attacks against Israel, including much of the recent rocket fire from Gaza into southern Israel.
Also on Friday, thousands of Palestinians marched in Gaza and the West Bank in support of the Hamas-led government, which organized the marches, and to protest a cutoff in direct aid by the United States and the European Union. Both suspended aid until Hamas recognizes Israel and renounces violence.
In Nablus, a Palestinian man was killed and another was wounded by Israeli forces during a demonstration against Israeli troops who were trying to make an arrest. The army said the two Palestinians were throwing a firebomb and an explosive device. Others in the crowd threw rocks. Four Palestinians were arrested.