By Xinhua
Jerusalem : Israeli Prime Minister Ehud Olmert said on Wednesday that Israel is committed to negotiations with Palestinian National Authority (PNA) and to talks on core issues.
Olmert made the remarks during a joint press conference with visiting U.S. President George W. Bush after their talks in the afternoon.
“Israel is committed to negotiations with PNA, and to talks on core issues,” the prime minister said.
Olmert added that both Israelis and Palestinians are “very seriously” trying to move forward to realize a vision of a two-state solution.
Commenting on home-made rocket attacks on southern Israel earlier in the day, Olmert underlined that “there will be no peace unless terror is stopped.”
The Islamic Jihad (Holy War) movement claimed responsibility for launching eight homemade rockets from northern Gaza at southern Israel. According to Israeli Radio, the rockets landed in an opened area, causing no damages or injuries.
Israeli army then carried out an airstrike on northern Gaza Strip town of Beit Hanoun, killing two Palestinians and wounding six others.
Bush arrived earlier in the day in Israel, the first leg of his eight-day Middle East trip which will also take him to the Palestinian territories, Kuwait, Bahrain, the United Arab Emirates, Saudi Arabia and Egypt.