Tel Aviv, Ramadan 12, 1434, Jul 21, 2013, SPA - Israeli Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu Saturday greeted plans for the resumption of peace talks with the Palestinians. They are "an essential strategic interest for Israel," the newspaper Haaretz quoted him as saying. The negotiations are important not only to end the conflict with the Palestinians but also in light of the nuclear threat from Iran and the civil war in neighbouring Syria, the Israeli leader was quoted as saying by DPA. Netanyahu also thanked US Secretary of State John Kerry, who on Friday announced that Israel and the Palestinians have agreed to resume peace talks. --SPA 13:27 LOCAL TIME 10:27 GMT www.spa.gov.sa/1131055