Netanyahu: Palestinians could achieve more if they cooperated

Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu met with the Quartet's Middle East envoy Tony Blair on Monday to discuss ways to improve the Palestinian economy. Netanyahu told Blair that the Palestinian residents of the West Bank could reach greater achievements if only they were to increase their cooperation with Israel.

Israeli-Palestinian peace talks backed by a quartet of international mediators - the European Union, the United States, the United Nations and Russia - are currently frozen.

Netanyahu's office said in a statement following the meeting between Netanyahu and Blair that "efforts and decisions are being made to accelerate the economic development in the area ... and to provide relief to the Palestinian residents."

The prime minister promised Blair that Israel would take action to facilitate the launching of a new cellular phone network in the West Bank by the end of this month.

Blair was the one who brought up the issue of the mobile phone operation, saying that Israel had essentially approved the launching of the network, but has been placing obstacles in its way for months. The delay prompted a Dubai company to demand its investment back from the Palestinian Authority - some $140 million. The company also threatened to scrap the project, a move that would leave hundreds unemployed.

Blair noted that Israel was not receiving credit for its many recent measures to ease conditions for the Palestinian population in the West Bank, such as the removal of roadblocks and checkpoints.

The Quartet envoy expressed his appreciation for the efforts to advance these issues and expressed his hope that they would continue.

Palestinian President Mahmoud Abbas has said he will not revive the negotiations unless Israel halts settlement expansion in the West Bank, in accordance with a 2003 road map peace plan that also commits the Palestinians to rein in militants.

Netanyahu has said he wants to shift the focus in talks with the Palestinians from tough territorial issues to a "triple track" on improving political, security and economic relations.

U.S. President Barack Obama's Middle East envoy, George Mitchell, was due to return to the region soon, U.S. officials said, for further talks with Israel on ending a rift with Washington over halting construction within settlements.

No date has been announced for the visit, but Erekat said Mitchell would arrive in 10 days