Abbas urges U.S., world to pressure Netanyahu on peace

Palestinian president Mahmud Abbas on Wednesday urged the international community to pressure Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu's coalition government, saying the newly sworn-in leader "does not believe in peace," AFP reported.

"Benjamin Netanyahu never believed in a two-state solution or accepted signed agreements and does not want to stop settlement activity. This is obvious," AFP quoted Abbas as telling the official Palestinian news agency.

"We have to tell the world that this man does not believe in peace, so how should we deal with him? Let's put the ball in the world's court so that it puts pressure on him and assumes its responsibilities."

The Palestinian leader's comments were the first statements since Netanyahu was sworn in as premier on Wednesday in Jerusalem.

"We will carry out peace negotiations with the Palestinian Authority with a view to reaching a final accord," Netanyahu said Tuesday.

"Under the final accord, the Palestinians will have all the rights to govern themselves except those that can put in danger the security and existence of the state of Israel," Netanyahu said.

The Palestinian Authority said Netanyahu's statements "mark a start that is not encouraging."

The PA is hopeful U.S. President Barack Obama will follow through on his pledge to actively engage the Mideast peace process.

"The American administration should pressure the Netanyahu government to stick to the fundamentals of the peace process, in other words land for peace.

"This means the restitution of all the Palestinian territories occupied in 1967, including east Jerusalem," Abbas's spokesman said Tuesday.

The European Union last week warned of "consequences" if the new government does not commit itself to the principle of the two-state solution, saying relations would become "very difficult."

And US President Barack Obama acknowledged that peace efforts under a Netanyahu cabinet would not be any easier but were just as necessary.

Israel committed itself to a two-state solution in the 2003 roadmap agreement, which calls on Israel to halt settlement activity and the Palestinians to halt attacks on the Jewish state.