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Indirect talks to begin, Netanyahu says
JERUSALEM, (UPI) -- Israeli Prime Minister Binyamin Netanyahu Sunday congratulated the Palestinian Authority's decision to enter indirect peace talks without preconditions.
Netanyahu said during a Cabinet meeting Israeli officials were successful in insisting Palestinians join the negotiations without preconditions and the need to move to direct talks quickly, The Jerusalem Post reported.
"Peace cannot be brought from a distance or by remote control, especially as we are such close neighbors," Netanyahu said. "These agreements, crucial to Israel's future and the Palestinians', will not be reached without us sitting and negotiating in the same room. We must achieve peace and security so that we will be able to live side by side with the Palestinians for generations."
Palestinian negotiator Saeb Erekat also announced the news about proximity talks after a meeting between Palestinian Authority President Mahmoud Abbas and U.S. American Envoy to the Middle East George Mitchell.
On Saturday, the Palestinian Liberation Organization Executive Committee and the Fatah Central Committee gave their backing for the indirect talks, the Post said.
In Gaza, the Hamas leadership decried the PLO decision as a "stab in the back of our people," saying the negotiations would be with officials representing slightly more than half of the Palestinians.
JERUSALEM, (UPI) -- Israeli Prime Minister Binyamin Netanyahu Sunday congratulated the Palestinian Authority's decision to enter indirect peace talks without preconditions.
Netanyahu said during a Cabinet meeting Israeli officials were successful in insisting Palestinians join the negotiations without preconditions and the need to move to direct talks quickly, The Jerusalem Post reported.
"Peace cannot be brought from a distance or by remote control, especially as we are such close neighbors," Netanyahu said. "These agreements, crucial to Israel's future and the Palestinians', will not be reached without us sitting and negotiating in the same room. We must achieve peace and security so that we will be able to live side by side with the Palestinians for generations."
Palestinian negotiator Saeb Erekat also announced the news about proximity talks after a meeting between Palestinian Authority President Mahmoud Abbas and U.S. American Envoy to the Middle East George Mitchell.
On Saturday, the Palestinian Liberation Organization Executive Committee and the Fatah Central Committee gave their backing for the indirect talks, the Post said.
In Gaza, the Hamas leadership decried the PLO decision as a "stab in the back of our people," saying the negotiations would be with officials representing slightly more than half of the Palestinians.