Netanyahu: Abbas can come meet me at any time

Benjamin Netanyahu reiterates his willingness to meet PA President Mahmoud Abbas, responding to a television interview the Palestinian leader gave last week.

“I’m inviting him, again. I’ll clear my schedule this week, any day he can come, I will be here,” Netanyahu says at a meeting with Czech FM Lubomír Zaorálek.

We have a lot to discuss, Netanyahu adds, first and foremost ways to end Palestinian incitement against Israelis.

“My door is always open for those who want to pursue peace with Israel,” he says.

Earlier in the day, President Reuven Rivlin also said he was willing to meet with Abbas.

“We must find a way to build confidence between us,” Rivlin said in a meeting with Zaorálek. “I will meet him with the understanding of the Israeli government of course.”

In an interview aired last week, Abbas told Israeli television he was willing to meet Netanyahu to reach a peace agreement.

“I still extend a hand to Mr. Netanyahu because I believe in peace. I believe that the people of Israel want peace and that the Palestinian people want peace,” he said.

— with Raphael Ahren