Israeli prime minister agrees to negotiate with Palestine

'We must convene and sit down without any preconditions. The main point is the need to recognize the Jewish people's state,' he said.

Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu on Wednesday evening welcomed a positive signal on the part of Palestinian President Mahmoud Abbas  and a possibility that the two leaders will meet next month.

Netanyahu spoke during a press briefing following his meeting with German President Horst Köhler in Berlin.

"I believed such moves should be made," Netanyahu said, referring to Abbas' willingness to meet with him.

"I view this announcement as a positive thing, perhaps the first one. I have yet to look into it, but I have said that we must convene and sit down without any preconditions. This is the simplest and most convenient thing for resuming the process," he said.