Palestinians spurn Netanyahu call to resume talks
Israeli Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu gestures during a press conference in Jerusalem. (April 3, 2012) Credit: Getty Images
The Palestinians on Thursday spurned Israeli Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu's latest invitation to resume peace talks, insisting the Israelis freeze settlement construction first.
Netanyahu on Wednesday proposed to start direct talks with Palestinian President Mahmoud Abbas, without any preconditions. The call followed an appeal from international mediators.
Negotiations broke down in late 2010 over the issue of settlement construction in the West Bank and east Jerusalem, areas claimed by the Palestinians as parts of their future state.
Netanyahu has repeatedly refused to halt settlement construction as a precondition to talks.
Israel and the Palestinians launched a low-level dialogue early this year, but failed to find a formula to resume formal peace talks.
Netanyahu is set to meet Abbas' prime minister, Salam Fayyad, on Tuesday.
Governor's race wrap ... Forever chemicals near battery storage ... Local weather ... Working Moms: Priority shift
Governor's race wrap ... Forever chemicals near battery storage ... Local weather ... Working Moms: Priority shift
