Palestinians must hold 'genuine' peace talks: Netanyahu

WASHINGTON: Israeli Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu said Thursday that the Palestinian Authority should cut its ties to Hamas fighters running the Gaza Strip and engage in "genuine" peace talks with Israel.

Speaking with NBC television, Netanyahu also insisted that he was "proud to be the prime minister of all Israeli citizens, Arabs and Jews alike" after triggering outrage for urging supporters to vote for him, warning Israeli Arabs were "turning out in droves."

Netanyahu won a come-from-behind victory in Israel’s election on Wednesday after tacking hard to the right in the final days of campaigning, including abandoning a commitment to negotiate a Palestinian state.