Israeli leaders says a permanent peace with Palestinians will require compromises by both

WASHINGTON - Israeli Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu is calling for Israelis as well as the Palestinians to make compromises in the pursuit of an enduring peace.

Netanyahu was speaking Thursday at the start of the first face-to-face Israeli-Palestinian negotiations in nearly two years. He directed some of his remarks to Palestinian President Mahmoud Abbas, calling him a partner for peace.

With each delegation seated on opposite sides of a U-shaped table at the State Department's ceremonial Benjamin Franklin Room, the Israeli leader cautioned that achieving a peace agreement would be difficult. But he also spoke optimistically of prospects for making progress in the coming year.

The leaders' negotiations face numerous obstacles, not least renewed violence and provocations from Israelis and Palestinians opposed to the goal of an independent Palestine and a secure Israel.