Israel Willing to Offer More to Facilitate Peace Talks
VOA News 07 July 2010
Israeli Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu says he is willing to take steps, including "easing the movements" of Palestinians in the West Bank and expanding economic projects, to help facilitate direct peace talks with Palestinians.
However, in a Wednesday interview with ABC television, he declined to say he is willing to extend a partial freeze on West Bank Jewish settlement construction that is due to expire in September.
Mr. Netanyahu said Israel is ready to offer the provisions but Palestinian leader Mahmoud Abbas needs to shake his hand, sit down with him and negotiate a final peace settlement.
Chief Palestinian negotiator Saeb Erekat says direct talks would be premature because of Israeli settlement expansion in the West Bank and Gaza. He says direct negotiations are "in the hand" of Mr. Netanyahu but Israel has to stop settlement activities.
On Wednesday, the Israeli leader is expected to discuss the Middle East peace process with U.N. Secretary-General Ban Ki-moon, in New York.
On Tuesday, Mr. Netanyahu held talks on the issue in Washington with U.S. President Barack Obama.
Mr. Netanyahu's last visit to Washington in March came just after Israel announced plans to build 1,600 new Jewish housing units in mainly Arab East Jerusalem. U.S. officials criticized Israel for the announcement, which sparked tensions in U.S.-Israeli relations.
But on Tuesday, Mr. Netanyahu said reports about a demise in U.S.-Israeli ties are "flat wrong." He said there is a "depth" and "richness" in the relationship between the two countries.
Mr. Obama said the U.S.-Israeli bond is "unbreakable."
Some information for this report was provided by AP and Reuters.
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