Israel declares readiness to negotiate with Palestine

Israeli Foreign Ministry's Deputy Director General Alexander Ben-Zvi declares the country's readiness for direct talks with Palestine if a substantive program is provided.

"If there are direct talks, we can sit down with the Palestinians and talk. The main thing is not where to do it, but what to discuss. That's the thing. Because we need some kind of program," Gazeta.ru cited him as saying.

The diplomat recalled that Israel twice offered territories to Palestine - in 2000 and 2008 - but these proposals were rejected.