WASHINGTON: The United States announced on Sunday the resumption of Israeli-Palestinian direct final status negotiations, with representatives of both sides meeting in Washington on Monday and Tuesday.
The Middle East peace process will be back to life after nearly a three-year deadlock, following some hectic diplomacy led by Secretary of State John Kerry in the last few months.
The State Department said Kerry spoke with Palestinian Authority President Mahmoud Abbas and Israeli Prime Minister Netanyahu and personally extended an invitation to send senior negotiating teams to Washington to formally resume direct final status negotiations.
Initial meetings are planned for the evening of Monday July 29 and Tuesday July 30, a statement released by spokesperson Jen Psaki said.On the eve of the talks, Israel agreed to the Palestinian demand on release of 104 prisoners.
In Washington meetings, the Israelis will be represented by Justice Minister Tzipi Livni and Yitzhak Molcho, and the Palestinians will be represented by Chief Negotiator Saeb Erekat and Mohammad Shtayyeh.
"As Secretary Kerry announced on July 19 in Amman, Jordan, the Israelis and Palestinians had reached agreement on the basis for resuming direct final status negotiations. The meetings in Washington will mark the beginning of these talks," the spokesperson said.
"They will serve as an opportunity to develop a procedural workplan for how the parties can proceed with the negotiations in the coming months," Psaki said.
In his invitation, the Secretary commended the courage shown by Prime Minister Netanyahu and President Abbas.
The Secretary said, "Both leaders have demonstrated a willingness to make difficult decisions that have been instrumental in getting to this point. We are grateful for their leadership."
"The United States and the parties are looking forward to beginning these substantive discussions and in moving forward toward a final status agreement," the State Department said.
According to Midddle East experts, the question of Israeli settlements on Palestinian territories and the future of Jerusalem will be among the tough issues the two sides must tackle for progress in negotiations.
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