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Israeli official says unity gov't brings "tailwind" in peace talks
Last Updated(Beijing Time):2012-05-14 21:37

An Israeli government official told Xinhua Monday that the newly-formed 94-member unity government "gives us a tailwind" in getting back to the long- stalled negotiations with the Palestinians.

According to local reports, Israeli Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu has told Palestinian National Authority President Mahmoud Abbas over the weekend that Israel's new unity government can promote peace.

A senior Israeli official confirmed the delivery of the message. "It is obvious that (the unity government) gives us a tailwind," the official told Xinhua on Monday.

However, Israeli Prime Minister Office Spokesman Mark Regev refused to confirm or deny the reports. "We are not commenting on the content of the letter," Regev said, referring to Israel's response to a letter sent by Abbas last month with terms for returning to the negotiating table.

Yasser Abed Rabbo, secretary general of Palestine Liberation Organization's executive committee, said Sunday that the Israeli response "didn't include clear answers to central issues that obstruct the resumption of the stalled peace process, mainly settlement, which has recently increased, mainly in Jerusalem."

The Israeli official said that "The lack of understandings between Israel and the Palestinians is based upon different stances on the talks. Israel believes in having a dialogue without setting preconditions and to put all issues on the table, and it delivered this message in the letter."

"This can explain the Palestinian notion that they didn't get the answers they wanted," the official noted.

Netanyahu's special envoy Isaac Molho on Saturday delivered the letter to Abbas at a meeting in Ramallah, which a diplomatic source said included an Israeli official pledge to establish a demilitarized Palestinian state in accordance to the principle of a two-state solution, the Haaretz daily said.

"Israel and the Palestinian (National) Authority are committed to achieving peace and the sides hope that the exchange of letters between President Abbas and Prime Minister Netanyahu will further this goal," read a joint statement released at the conclusion of the meeting.

Peace talks between Israel and the Palestinians stopped in October 2010 due to disputes over Jewish settlements in West Bank and east Jerusalem, and Palestinian demands that Israel accepts the pre-1967 war borderline as a starting point for talks.

The Palestinians said they will not resume direct or indirect peace talks with Israel before the latter clearly declares a complete cessation of settlement activities in the territories occupied in 1967, including east Jerusalem.

Israel said it will not accept any precondition for resuming talks.

Source:Xinhua 
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