Israeli Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu has welcomed the invitation to hold direct peace talks in September for the first time since 2008 and said he was "pleased with the American clarification that the talks would be without preconditions."

"Reaching an agreement is a difficult challenge but is possible. We are coming to the talks with a genuine desire to reach a peace agreement between the two peoples that will protect Israel's national security interests, foremost of which is security," said Netanyahu, as cited by CNN.

He pointed he wants "serious and comprehensive talks."

Hamas, the anti-Israel group that runs Gaza - rejected the talks.

Sami Abu Zohri, Hamas spokesman, said that "till now all these negotiations did not achieve anything. These negotiations will not be accepted by the Palestinian people because it is a new trap for the Palestinians."

This news comes after months of relative lack of involvement on the American side regarding the Middle East peace process and a marked cooling toward Israel.

Just a few hours ago, Novinite.com (Sofia News Agency) quoted Israeli ambassador to Bulgaria Noah Gal Gendler, who considers Bulgaria "a very good place for direct Israeli-Palestinian negotiations."

Last week Israeli President Shimon Peres was on an official visit to Bulgaria, during which he declared that direct Israeli-Palestinian negotiations should be expected shortly, and described Bulgaria as “the most suitable” place to hold such talks.

Bulgarian President Georgi Parvanov did not give a definite answer to that proposal.