(CNN) -- The Israeli prime minister said Sunday that talks with Palestinians will only lead to a lasting peace deal if the latter guarantees security and recognizes that Israel is the nation state of the Jewish people.
Benjamin Netanyahu's comments came two days after U.S. Secretary of State Hillary Clinton said direct peace talks between the two would resume.
"What we are talking about is a peace agreement between Israel and a demilitarized Palestinian state," Netanyahu said at a weekly Cabinet meeting. " ... Security, recognizing Israel as the nation state of the Jewish people and ending the conflict are the three first layers that would guarantee a true peace agreement, an agreement that could last for generations".
Israel and the Palestinian Authority have agreed to hold direct peace talks beginning September 2 in Washington -- the first such talks since 2008. CNN
