Chairman of Israeli party seeking peace

JERUSALEM, Nov. 7 (UPI) -- The chairman of Israel's Likud political party said Friday he intends to combine economic and diplomatic means to bring about peace in the Middle East.

Likud Chairman Benjamin Netanyahu told U.S. Secretary of State Condoleezza Rice that if he is elected the next prime minister of Israel, he will move forward with his goal of bringing about peace to Israel and its neighbors, Ynetnews reported.

Netanyahu told Rice his plan would initially be focused on peace efforts at a grassroots level before such negotiations would involve those at leadership levels.

The chairman of the Israeli opposition party also told the U.S. official during their meeting in Jerusalem that he was thankful for the United States' involvement in the pursuit of peace in the Middle East.

Netanyahu's comments came shortly after Israeli Defense Minister Ehud Barak reiterated his country's stance that Iran is actively pursuing nuclear weapons amid international negotiations.

"As for Israel, we have said before that all options are open," Barak said of the situation.