'Durable peace' with Arab neighbours - Netanyahu

Israel: Israeli Prime Minister- designate Benjamin Netanyahu said Monday that the new government will make every effort to reach "a durable peace with all of Israel's Arab neighbors."

"Whenever Israel stands before peace-seeking an Arab leader, it follows and answers the call," the Likud leader told the Knesset (parliament) in Jerusalem during a special session marking the 30th anniversary of the Israel-Egypt peace treaty. Netanyahu praised late Prime Minister Menachem Begin and the late Egyptian President Anwar Sadat for "their wisdom in making the impossible possible."

Israel and Egypt signed a peace treaty on March 26, 1979, normalizing relations between the two countries. Earlier on Monday, Netanyahu officially informed acting Knesset Speaker Michael Eitan that he has succeeded in forming the cabinet, which would comprise 30 ministers and seven deputy ministers.

Likud lawmaker Reuven Rivlin was appointed Knesset Speaker. A swearing-in ceremony for Netanyahu's government would be held at 5:00 p.m.(1400 GMT) Tuesday.

Jerusalem, Xinhua