JERUSALEM, Nov. 7 (Xinhua) -- Israeli Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu told the Quartet's (U.S., UN, EU and Russia) middle east envoy Tony Blair that he is ready to resume peace negotiations with the Palestinians without preconditions.
Netanyahu met with Blair on Wednesday during the latter's visit to Israel and responded to remarks made by Palestinian President Mahmoud Abbas recently.
On Friday, Abbas told the channel 2 news that the Palestinians are striving for peace with Israel based on the two-state solution and are willing to return to the negotiations table.
"I listened very carefully to President Abbas' recent statements and I renew my constant suggestion, let's sit down together for negotiations without preconditions," Netanyahu said, according to his Bureau's statement which was sent to Xinhua.
Blair, on his behalf, said that now that Barack Obama has been re-elected as the American president, it's time to try and reinvigorate the peace process.
"This is an opportunity to re-energize this process and make sure we get back around the table and have a negotiation, that's the best way to try to create peace," Blair said.
Peace talks between Israel and the Palestinians came to a halt in 2010 over Israel's increasing construction in the West Bank settlements, condemned by the Palestinians, the international community and the Israeli center-left wing.
The Palestinians have demanded in the past to freeze the construction in the settlements before resuming peace talks.
On Tuesday the Israeli Housing Ministry published tenders for 1213 housing units in Ramot and Pisgat Ze'ev within the Jerusalem municipality, lying beyond the 1967 lines (territories which Israel annexed after the 1967 war) and are therefore dubbed settlements.
Germany, France and the United Kingdom on Wednesday condemned the construction of new housing units.
Front Page Features