Israeli leader invites Abbas to peace talks
Israeli Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu is inviting the Palestinians to sit down immediately to talk peace.
Mr Netanyahu told the weekly Cabinet meeting that “there is no reason Palestinian Authority Chairman Mahmoud Abbas and I should not meet.”
Mr Netanyahu has made this offer before. But a top Abbas adviser says the Israeli leader must first be willing to honour previous obligations, such as freezing all West Bank settlement construction.
Mr Netanyahu has been unwilling to do that, despite US pressure.
Palestinian negotiator Saeb Erekat says all of the key issues must also be put on the table and that the Palestinians do not want Mr Netanyahu to use such calls as public relations.
