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Israeli PM on Palestinian Peace Talks: Â«Let’s Get On With ItÂ»

12 August 2010 00:34 (UTC +04:00)

Baku â€“ APA. Israeli Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu has told visiting U.S. Middle East envoy George Mitchell that Israel is ready for direct peace talks with the Palestinians, APA reports quoting â€œThe Voice of Americaâ€.

Speaking to reporters before their meeting in Jerusalem Wednesday, Mr. Netanyahu called for talks without preconditions, saying "let’s get on with it."

Mitchell told the Israeli prime minister that the U.S. shares Israel’s objectives, and will continue to work with Israel’s leaders as well as Palestinian President Mahmoud Abbas.

Mitchell failed Tuesday to persuade Mr. Abbas to engage in direct talks with Israel. The Palestinian leader wants agreement first on the agenda and timeline for the negotiations.

The Palestinians also are demanding a freeze on Israeli settlement construction on land the Palestinians want for a future state.

The Obama administration has been pushing for direct Israeli-Palestinian talks to resume early next month. Direct talks between Mr. Abbas and Mr. Netanyahu’s predecessor, former Israeli Prime Minister Ehud Olmert, broke off in December 2008.