Jerusalem - The Palestinian leadership Tuesday reacted with disappointment to comments by Israel's incoming Israeli Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu and his failure to support a two-state solution to the Mideast conflict.

"We had hoped to hear from Benjamin Netanyahu a commitment to the two-state solution, to negotiations on all core issues without exception, including Jerusalem, to stopping all settlement activities ... and to lifting the siege on Gaza," said chief Palestinian negotiator Saeb Erekat in a statement.

"What we got from Netanyahu was the promise of more 'process' without a clearly defined end goal," Erekat said.

Erekat said Netanyahu had "missed" the opportunity to "set the stage for meaningful negotiations to end the conflict and to show that he is a real partner for peace."

Netanyahu told a special session of the Knesset that his government would work toward a comprehensive peace with the Arab and Muslim world, but did not speak of the two-state solution advocated by the international community.

Netanyahu said that if the Palestinian Authority really sought peace, then "we can achieve it."

"We have no wish to rule over another people. We will pursue a realistic route with the honest purpose of ending the conflict. Israel wants a comprehensive peace with the whole Arab and Muslim world."

During Netanyahu's speech, a right wing coalition partner member threatened to force new elections if Netanyahu entered talks with the Palestinians about dividing Jerusalem. The Palestinians want the occupied Arabic eastern Jerusalem to become the capital of an independent Palestinian state. (dpa)