JERUSALEM, March 4 (Xinhua) -- Israeli Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu said on Thursday that Israel is ready for indirect talks with the Palestinians.
"If this is what is necessary to start the process, Israel is ready," said Netanyahu during his opening remarks at a cabinet meeting Thursday.
"We welcome the start of talks, even if they are proximity talks," he said, implying the willingness of Israel to have direct talks with the Palestinians.
The prime minister also welcomed U.S. Vice President Joe Biden' s visit to the region next week, saying that the tour will contribute to advancing the peace process.
Indirect talks between Israel and the Palestinians may start as early as Sunday, on the eve of Biden's arrival in the region, according to local daily Ha'aretz.
Should the talks take place, as proposed and strongly advocated by the United States, they would become the first formal Israeli- Palestinian negotiations since U.S. President Barack Obama and Netanyahu took office early last year.
The Arab League decided Wednesday after a two-day meeting in Cairo to back indirect talk between Israel and the Palestinians for a duration of four months, paving the way for the renewal of long stalled peace process.
The pan-Arab bloc also stressed that the Palestinians would not enter direct negotiations before Israel completely halts Jewish construction activities in the West Bank and East Jerusalem.
