RONI SOFER

JREUSALEM – Israeli Prime Minister Binyamin Netanyahu hopes to resume peace negotiations with the Palestinians in the coming weeks.

“I have basis to hope, in a realistic way, that in the coming weeks we will resume the peace process with the Palestinians, without preconditions,” Netanyahu told the Herzliya Conference on February 3.

“I have been saying for a long time that the international community has matured into understanding that Israel wants and is ready to resume the peace process.

“And from the moment this recognition has matured among the key elements in the international community, the practical feasibility of this move is also maturing.”

“There is a saying that it takes two to tango,” Netanyahu added. “In the Middle East, it sometimes takes three, at least at the beginning. Then we can continue to a dance for couples.

“I hope there if is willingness on the other side, not only to build the Palestinian economy and the Palestinian institutions, but also to start building peace itself, we will see a resumption of the process in the coming weeks.”

YNETNEWS