Netanyahu hopes indirect talks with Palestinians start next week

Jerusalem - Israeli Premier Benjamin Netanyahu said Thursday he hoped indirect talks between Israel and the Palestinians would begin with the visit of US mediator George Mitchell next week. "We welcome the start of talks, even if they are proximity talks," he told a cabinet meeting in Jerusalem, a day after the Arab League gave the green-light for indirect Israeli-Palestinian negotiations, albeit with a four-month deadline.

The Israeli leader said Israel's goal was "to reach a peace agreement with our Palestinian neighbors via direct talks," but., he added, "we do not necessarily insist on this format."

"If this is what is necessary to start the process Israel is ready," he said.

Direct Israeli-Palestinian talks were suspended in late 2008, when Israel began an election campaign, which ultimately saw Netanyahu replace the centrist Ehud Olmert as prime minister.

The negotiations have not been resumed since Netanyahu was sworn into office at the end of March 2009. Palestinian President Mahmoud Abbas insists that Israel halt completely all construction in West Bank settlements and in East Jerusalem before he will return to the negotiating table.

A 10-month partial moratorium on settlement construction declared by Netanyahu at the end of November last year was deemed insufficient by the Palestinians, since it was limited in scope and did not include East Jerusalem, which Israel sees as part of its united capital.

Frequent visits to the region by Mitchell, who shuttled between Jerusalem and Ramallah, failed to break the impasse.

The envoy is slated to arrive in Israel again on Saturday night, ahead of a visit by US Vice-President Joe Biden, who arrives Monday.

Source: Earth Times.
Link: http://www.earthtimes.org/articles/show/312491,netanyahu-hopes-indirect-talks-with-palestinians-start-next-week.html.