Israel's incoming prime minister, Benjamin Netanyahu, said his government will seek a peace agreement with the Palestinians. According to the AP, Netanyahu told a conference in Jerusalem on Wednesday that peace is an "enduring goal" for all Israeli governments, including his own.
He stated he will negotiate with the Palestinian Authority and work to develop their economy. According to him, the Palestinians must understand that his government will be a "partner for peace."
Late Tuesday, the centrist Labor Party joined Netanyahu's emerging coalition, saying it would help moderate what would otherwise have been a narrow, hardline government. Defence minister and party leader Ehud Barak spearheaded the move to join.
