Israel urges Palestinians to restart peace talks

Israel's Prime Minister has urged Palestinians to restart stalled negotiations, but offered no breakthrough on his policies over the peace process.

Benjamin Netanyahu made the remarks a day after US Secretary of State, Hillary Clinton, made her first official visit to Israel since he took office in late March.

At a weekly cabinet meeting, Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu, told his ministers he hoped "the Palestinians will come back to their senses and will enter into a negotiation process".

Benjamin Netanyahu, Israel's Prime Minister, said, "The peace process is in both Israeli and Palestinian interests, it's an important thing. We are committed to it and we hope that, without any delay, to restart the negotiation with the Palestinians."

Palestinian leaders have said they will not return to peace talks unless Israel stops construction on all settlements in occupied territories they claim will be part of a future state. They say Israel has defied a US demand for a freeze on settlements.

Earlier in the day, Palestinian President Mahmoud Abbas, had rejected Clinton's request that he allow Israel to complete construction of three thousand settlement units in the West Bank.

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