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Palestinian Official Urges Pressure on Netanyahu

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Palestinian minister of foreign affairs in Salam Fayyad's caretaker government on Monday called on the international community to exert pressure on Israeli Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu.

Reyad el-Malki, also spokesman of Fayyad's government, told a news conference held in Ramallah following the weekly meeting of the cabinet that Netanyahu has to accept the two-state solution in order to achieve peace in the region.

Israel's 32nd government led by Likud Chairman Netanyahu was officially sworn in last Tuesday night.

"The United States and the world are called to intervene and take a firm decision by exerting pressure on Israel to respect the political commitments," el-Malki said, warning of "the dangers of the current Israeli policy on the future of the region."

The Palestinian cabinet accused the Israeli government for escaping from its commitments towards succeeding the Middle East peace process, adding "this government seeks to undermine this process and neglect the Palestinians rights."

Meanwhile, el-Malki told reporters that the cabinet meeting number 102 held in Ramallah Monday chaired by Prime Minister Fayyad "might be the last or the one before the last meeting of the government."

"It depends on the results of the third round of inter-reconciliation dialogue due to be held in Cairo on April 26 (between Fatah and Hamas). If an agreement is reached, PM Fayyad will immediately resign," el-Malki added.

He said that the government will continue carrying out its duties "until Palestinian President Mahmoud Abbas issues his decree of accepting Fayyad's resignation or keeping him as prime minister."

(Xinhua News Agency April 7, 2009)

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