A source at the office of Palestinian President Mahmoud Abbas said that Israel has handed over Saturday evening its response to the message of the President demanding Israel to resume peace negotiations. The office of Israeli Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu confirmed the delivery of the message and said in a statement that "Israel and the Palestinian Authority are committed to achieving peace. Both parties agree that that the exchange of messages between President Abbas and Netanyahu will contribute to this." The internet site of the Israeli newspaper Haaretz quoted an Israeli official as saying that Netanyahu's message to Abbas calls for immediate resumption of negotiations "without requiring the cessation of settlement" which is sought by the Palestinians. President Abbas urged the Israeli government in his letter to resume negotiations on the basis of a Palestinian state on 1967 borders with a slight exchange of land between the parties, and on the basis of a full settlement freeze in the Palestinian territories, including the occupied East Al-Quds (Jerusalem). President Abbas also demanded the release of all Palestinian prisoners in Israeli jails.
