Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu countered a controversial United Nations address by Foreign Minister Avigdor Lieberman on Tuesday, rejecting Lieberman’s views on a possible land swap and asserting his belief that Israel and Palestinians could reach a peace deal within a year.
Referring to recent talks with French President Nikolas Sarkozy and German Chancellor Angela Merkel, a statement by the Prime Minister’s Office said that Netanyahu told the two leaders he hoped “the positive talks with Abu Mazen [Palestinian Authority President Mahmoud Abbas] would continue.”
“It is vital, and I wholeheartedly believe that it is within our power to reach a framework agreement within a year and change Middle East history,” the PM reportedly said.
The Prime Minister’s Office added that the premier also accepted Sarkozy’s invitation to a peace summit to be held in Paris during the coming October, which would also be attended by Abbas.
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