Netanyahu Says Palestinians Are Not Interested In Peace Talks

Israeli Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu was charging Monday that the Palestinians have no interest in starting peace negotiations again, suggesting that newly resumed contacts between the sides are producing little progress.

Israeli and Palestinian negotiators started meeting in Jordan Jan. 3 trying to find a formula to start formal negotiations again. Israeli-Palestinian talks have been halted for more than 3 years over the issue of Israeli settlement construction.

Netanyahu told Israeli lawmakers in a closed parliamentary meeting that for the last 3 years, the Palestinians have refused to join negotiations, thinking they could impose preconditions upon Israel.

Netanyahu said the Palestinian have no interest in entering peace talks. He is ready to travel now to Ramallah to start peace talks with Abu Mazen, without preconditions. But the simple truth is that Abu Mazen is not ready. Abbas is widely known as Abu Mazen.

Netanyahu’s comments were passed on by a meeting participant who spoke on condition of anonymity because the meeting was closed.

Abbas said the Palestinians will not resume talks unless Israel stops building in the West Bank and east Jerusalem, areas Israel captured in the 1967 war from Jordan and claimed by the Palestinians as parts of their future state.

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Tags: abbas, abu mazen, benjamin netanyahu, israeli prime minister, israeli settlement construction, israeli-palestinian talks, jerusalem, palestinians, ramallah, west bank