Mr Laws also appeared to offer an olive branch to teachers, saying they did one of the most important jobs in the country.

BBC: Schools told to narrow gap between rich and poor

One of Gowda's first actions as PM was to offer an olive branch to India's insurgency-torn northeastern states, which symbolize another of the nation's many festering divides.

CNN: Center Cut

The president also will offer an olive branch to the evangelical Christian base when Congressional leaders raise the same-sex marriage ban again.

CNN: Stay tuned for another swing in the campaign

He said Palestinians would now have to prove that they were committed to peace, and that if they did, Israel would offer an olive branch in return.

BBC: 2005: Settlers protest at Gaza pullout