PM returns, to update gov't on peace talks progress

Netanyahu lands back in Israel after week-long trip to the US that included talks with secretary of state and top Jewish activists in North America.

By JPOST.COM STAFF
Clinton Netanyahu happy (photo credit: GPO)
Clinton Netanyahu happy
(photo credit: GPO)
Prime Minister Binyamin Netanyahu returned from his week-long trip to the US on Friday and landed at Ben Gurion Airport.
The main purpose of the prime minister's trip was to attend the General Assembly of the Jewish Federations of North America held in New Orleans that brought Jewish community activists from across the continent to discuss pressing issues to the North American Jewish community and communal relations towards the Jewish State. He also discussed Israel's position towards peace talks with the Palestinian Authority and the lapsed West Bank building moratorium with major US media outlets while abroad.
RELATED:Clinton: US upset with J’lem housing announcementThe GA: When the Jews came marching inThe Prime Minister's Office announced upon Netanyahu's return that he expects to update the government Septet regarding recent discussions with US government about peace talks.
"The prime minister will meet with the Septet Saturday evening to update the them on recent contacts with the American government and on the continuing efforts to renew the peace process. At Sunday's cabinet meeting, Netanyahu will update the rest of the government's ministers about the issues," said a statement released by the PMO.
On Thursday, US Secretary of State Hillary Clinton and Netanyahu held talks that were "friendly and productive" and stressed the importance of continuing direct negotiations in pursuit of an Israeli-Palestinian peace accord, according to a joint statement put out by the two governments.
The two sides indicated that officials would continue to meet in the days ahead in order to create "conditions for the resumption of direct negotiations," which have stalled ever since the Israelis let a settlement freeze lapse and Palestinians have demanded the freeze be extended as a condition of the talks.
Clinton stated ahead of her meeting with Netanyahu in New York in response to reporters' questions, "The [Israeli] prime minister and President Abbas are both very committed to the two-state solution and we're going to find a way forward."
Clinton reiterated during the meeting the US's position that negotiations can reconcile "an independent and viable state, based on the 1967 lines, with agreed swaps" for the Palestinians with Israel's desire for "secure and recognized borders that reflect subsequent developments on the ground," and provide Israel with security.
"Those requirements will be fully taken into account in any future peace agreement," the statement emphasized.
Hilary Leila Krieger, Tovah Lazaroff and Jordana Horn contributed to this report.