Israeli Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu stated on Sunday he heard "interesting ideas" from the American envoy to the region on resuming peace negotiations with the Palestinians. Shortly after the talks with envoy George Mitchell, Netanyahu reaffirmed at the weekly cabinet session his intention to retain major settlement blocs in the occupied West Bank in any peace agreement.
"Today I heard some interesting ideas for renewing the (peace) process," the Israeli leader told his ministers, according to Reuters. "I also expressed my hope that these new ideas will allow for the renewal of the process. Certainly if the Palestinians express a similar readiness, then we will find ourselves in a diplomatic process," Netanyahu added.
Mitchell told Palestinian leaders on Friday they must resume talks with Israel if they want the U.S. help to achieve a peace treaty.
