JERUSALEM, Sept 27 (Reuters) - Israeli Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu urged Palestinian President Mahmoud Abbas to pursue "expedited, honest talks" to achieve a peace deal within a year, in a statement issued on Monday minutes after the formal expiration of a settlement freeze.
"Israel is ready to pursue continuous contacts in the coming days to find a way to continue peace talks between Israel and the Palestinian Authority," the statement said.
It added that Netanyahu had been in touch with U.S., Egyptian and Jordanian leaders in search of a way to avoid a Palestinian walkout from nascent talks over the settlements issue.
(Editing by Michael Roddy)
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