Israel: Netanyahu calls on Abbas to... achieve peace!

JERUSALEM- Israeli Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu called on Sunday the Palestinian President Mahmoud Abbas to meet to ...reach a political and economic peace....

•     “To the leader of the Palestinian Authority, I say, let’s meet to achieve peace and economic policy,” said Netanyahu at the opening of the weekly cabinet meeting in exceptionally Beersheba in southern Israel.
  
      The decision to hold the cabinet in Beersheba, not far from the Ghaza Strip, was taken to express the government's willingness to develop the Negev desert region, according to the Chair of the Board.
  
      “There is no reason why we do not meet with the President of the Palestinian Authority and I propose that it takes place in Beersheba in order to advance the peace for the good of both peoples”, said Netanyahu, whose remarks were broadcast by the military radio.
  
      Since taking office in early April, Mr. Netanyahu has not met with Mahmoud Abbas, while his predecessor Ehud Olmert talking regularly with the Palestinian president. MM. Netanyahu and Abbas have however had at least a telephone interview.
  
      Mr. Abbas for his part is conditioning a meeting with Mr. Netanyahu to a freeze of Israeli settlement and the acceptance of the creation of a Palestinian state.
  
      Mr. Netanyahu has yet refused the cessation of settlement as also ask the United States and has agreed for the first time in mid-June, the creation of a Palestinian state associated to a series of conditions that President Abbas has rejected.
  
      
  Ennaharonline/ M. O.