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Netanyahu says ready to resume talks with Palestinians tomorrow

GAZA, July 11 (KUNA) -- Israeli Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu said Monday he was ready to resume peace negotiations with the Palestinians as of tomorrow.
Netanyahu blamed the Palestinians for the stalemate of the peace process, an accusation he made before a meeting of the international diplomatic Quartet in Washington today.
Netanyahu, cited by the Israeli radio after a meeting with Greek President Karolos Papoulias in occupied Jerusalem, said "I am ready to start negotiations with the Palestinians tomorrow morning." He said the Palestinians "are responsible for the failure to revive the negotiations" which stopped last September. "Regrettably they refuse to return to the negotiations' table with us," he added.
The Palestinian side stopped the peace talks with the Netanyahu government after the latter refused to freeze construction of Jewish settlements in the West Bank and occupied Jerusalem.
Netanyahu, meanwhile, thanked Greece for preventing the freedom flotilla II from sailling from Greek ports last week. (end) mzt.bs KUNA 112009 Jul 11NNNN