Netanyahu Calls for Peace Talks

Israeli Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu called for renewed direct peace negotiations with Palestinian President Mahmoud Abbas, even as Abbas prepared to submit a statehood bid to the U.N. “Unilateral measures are not the way to advance peace between us,” Netanyahu said. It is not known if Abbas responded to Netanyahu’s request, but he said on Monday that he still plans to submit the bid. Meanwhile, Hamas warned Abbas not to go to the U.N. General Assembly, because that would show a willingness to negotiate with Israel. One Hamas official said, “We are warning him not to go. This is going to make more division inside the Palestinian people.”