(JTA) – Israeli Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu called Palestinian Authority President Mahmoud Abbas to offer condolences on the death of Abbas’ brother. Omar Abbas, who had been suffering from cancer, died in Qatar on July 21, with the funeral taking place the following day. He had been undergoing treatment at the Assuta Medical Center in Tel Aviv, the AFP news agency reported. Netanyahu called Abbas last Friday, according to an official from Netanyahu’s office, who said the conversation was “only to offer condolences.” No other topics were discussed, he said. The Palestinian state media confirmed the call.

Relations between the two men are frosty, with Netanyahu accusing Abbas of libeling the Jewish people last month after he suggested some rabbis had called for Palestinian wells to be poisoned. The Israeli leadership has often accused the Palestinian leader of promoting incitement against Israel in Palestinian media, thereby encouraging violent attacks against Israelis. Abbas and Netanyahu shook hands at a climate summit in Paris in November but held no significant talks. The last substantial public meeting between them is thought to date back to 2010, though since then there have been unconfirmed reports of secret meetings.