Israeli Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu on Friday afternoon hailed the U.S. invitation for Israeli and Palestinian leaders to start direct peace talks in early September.
“Prime Minister Netanyahu welcomes the invitation of the U.S. to begin direct negotiations without preconditions,” said a statement of Israeli prime minister’s office.
“Reaching an agreement is a difficult challenge but is possible, ” Netanyahu was quoted as saying, “we are coming to the talks with a genuine desire to reach a peace agreement between the two peoples that will protect Israel’s national security interests, foremost of which is security.”
The statement was released shortly after U.S. Secretary of State Hillary Clinton announced that Washington has invited Israel and the Palestinians to launch direct peace talks on September 2 in Washington.
Clinton said a peace agreement should be reached within one year, adding the peace talks should start without preconditions.
Netanyahu said he is pleased with the unconditional nature of the talks.
The Palestinians, questioning Israel’s sincerity, have demanded that the direct negotiations have a commitment by Israel to freeze settlement construction activities. Israeli government, on the other side, has repeatedly called for direct talks without prerequisites.
The Mideast Quartet, namely the United States, the European Union, Russia and the United Nations, also released a statement on Friday, saying it strongly supports the direct negotiations and calls on the two sides to join in launching the talks on September 2.
However, the Quartet also reaffirms its “full commitment to its previous statements,” adding that the talks should lead to the establishment of the Palestinian state and the end of “the occupation which began in 1967.”
Sources close to Israeli cabinet told Xinhua earlier in the day that the cabinet has decided to reject any preconditions for the direct talks should they be included in the announcement of the Quartet.
The Quartet’s announcement “doesn’t bind Israel,” said a source who maintains anonymous due to the sensitivity of the issue.
“The only thing that will obligate Israel will be the American document that summons to direct talks, which was put together in coordination with Israel and is accepted by Israel.”
So far, the Palestinian leadership has not responded to the U.S. call.