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Israeli PM Marks New Year With Peace Comments

   VOA News 07 September 2010
   Israeli  PM  Benjamin  Netanyahu,  second  from  left, and Palestinian
   President  Mahmoud  Abbas,  center, are escorted to their seats at the
   opening session of face-to-face peace talks hosted by the U.S., at the
   State Department in Washington, 2 Sep 2010

Photo: AP

   Israeli  PM  Benjamin  Netanyahu,  second  from  left, and Palestinian
   President  Mahmoud  Abbas,  center, are escorted to their seats at the
   opening session of face-to-face peace talks hosted by the U.S., at the
   State Department in Washington, 2 Sep 2010

   Israeli  Prime  Minister Benjamin Netanyahu says his country will work
   in  good  faith,  but  not  naiveté,  as  it  tries  to reach a peace
   agreement with the Palestinians. Â
   Mr.  Netanyahu said Tuesday he is not certain peace talks will succeed
   because there are many obstacles, skeptics and doubters.  However, in
   a  videotaped  address marking the Jewish New Year, he said both sides
   need to try to achieve peace.
   The  Israeli  leader also said any agreement must be based on security
   and recognition of Israel as the Jewish state.
   The  Associated  Press  quotes  Palestinian President Mahmoud Abbas as
   saying  he  will  ask the United States to "intervene" in the issue of
   Israeli  settlements,  one  of the toughest negotiating points for the
   two sides.
   On  Monday,  Israeli  Foreign  Minister  Avigdore  Lieberman  said his
   ultra-nationalist  Yisrael  Beitenu  party  will  block any attempt to
   extend  a  partial construction ban on settlement building in the West
   Bank.  The 10-month freeze is due to end on September 26.
   Mr. Abbas has said he will quit peace talks if settlement construction
   resumes.
   Peace   talks   between  Israel  and  the  Palestinians  restarted  in
   Washington  last  week,  after  a  nearly two-year hiatus.  President
   Barack  Obama hosted Mr. Abbas and Mr. Netanyahu.  The president said
   the  United States cannot impose a solution in the Israeli-Palestinian
   dispute.

   Some information for this report was provided by AP, AFP and Reuters.

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