The Israeli Prime Minister, Binyamin Netanyahu, has returned home and -- in the face of protests -- has defended the peace deal he signed with the Palestinians in Washington.

He said it had been painful and difficult to give up what he called Israeli lands.

But he said they had fought like lions to reduce Palestinian expectations that had been raised by the previous Israeli government.

To those Jewish settlers who have been protesting against the deal, he said his was the only government that would still fight for them.

Right-wing politicians have accused Mr Netanyahu of treason and are threatening to bring down the government.

But a new opinion poll in Israel shows that nearly seventy-five per cent of those questioned support the deal.