Israeli Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu says he wants peace with the Palestinians, and hopes visiting U.S. Secretary of State John Kerry can return negotiations to a place where a "historical" agreement can be achieved.
Mr. Netanyahu and Kerry opened a meeting Wednesday in Jerusalem. The Israeli leader voiced reservations about the three-month-old peace talks.
Kerry, who is also meeting Wednesday with Palestinian President Mahmoud Abbas, said there are always "difficulties" and "tensions" within negotiations, but that he is confident the parties can work through them. He said both the Israelis and Palestinians need to make compromises and hard decisions to achieve their goal.
He also addressed Mr. Netanyahu's concern that world powers may negotiate an agreement with Iran that would decrease sanctions in return for anything less than the full dismantling of its nuclear enrichment capability.
The United States and its Western allies suspect Iran is developing nuclear weapons. Iran has denied the charge, saying its nuclear program is designed for peaceful purposes.