Netanyahu Says Mere Start of Peace Talks Not Enough
Israeli Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu warned on Tuesday that the mere resumption of peace talks with the Palestinians would yield no results if both parties don't take the time needed to tackle the core issues.
The prime minister's remarks, made two days before the return of U.S. Secretary of State John Kerry on a mission to revive peace negotiations, appeared to reflect concern that any resumption of talks with the Palestinians could be short-lived.
"Our aim is not only to enter (talks) and tick the box of starting negotiations," he said.
"Our aim is to persevere in the talks and to continue them for a period of time in order to try and deal with the issues and reach an agreement that will resolve the essential issues of the conflict.
"That needs time, determination and a methodical approach and I hope the Palestinians have this. That is our approach and I hope it is also theirs," he said, in remarks communicated by his office.
Kerry is due back in Jerusalem on Thursday on his fifth visit since February as he seeks to draw the two sides back into direct peace talks after a hiatus of nearly three years.
The last time the parties held face-to-face negotiations was in September 2010, but the talks broke down just weeks later after Israel failed to renew a freeze on the construction of new West Bank settler homes in a move which infuriated the Palestinians.
Since then, everything has been deadlocked, with the Palestinians demanding that Israel halt construction and accept the 1967 lines as a basis for negotiations, and the Jewish state insisting it would only talk if the Palestinians dropped all such "pre-conditions."
Since his appointment as Washington's top diplomat in February, Kerry has visited the region four times in a bid to find a way to draw the sides back into talks.
A flurry of overnight media reports suggested a breakthrough could be near, but there was no confirmation of the reports from either party.
Netanyahu's remarks were made at the start of a meeting with visiting Georgian Prime Minister Bidzina Ivanishvili.
Source: Agence France Presse
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