以色列总理内塔尼亚胡告诉来访的美国中东特使米切尔，以色列作好了同巴勒斯坦举行直接会谈的准备。
星期三在耶路撒冷同米切尔举行会晤前会见媒体时，内塔尼亚胡要求在没有预设前提下举行会谈，他说“让我们赶快开始。”
米切尔告诉以色列总理内塔尼亚胡，美国和以色列的目标是一致的，而且将继续同以色列领导人以及巴勒斯坦民族权力机构主席阿巴斯合作。
米切尔星期二没能说服阿巴斯与以色列开展直接对话。阿巴斯要首先就谈判的框架和时间表达成一致。巴勒斯坦方面还要求以色列冻结在巴勒斯坦计划未来建国的土地上修建定居点的工程。
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.
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.