Israeli PM reaches out to Palestine

Jerusalem, March 26

Netanyahu tried to reach out to Palestinians after he backtracked from his own six-year-old policy on the eve of elections and ruled out a Palestinian state in a last-ditch effort to woo right-wing voters. “Our hand is extended in peace to our Palestinian neighbours,” he said, adding “the people of Israel know that real peace, that our entire future, will only be secured if Israel remains strong.”

Netanyahu, whose acrimonious electioneering had strained ties with the US and drew accusations of racism from the country’s Arab minority, said he will try to “mend the rifts”. — PTI