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The Palestinian authorities got the go ahead to resume peace talks with Israel after approval from executive committee.
At a meeting in Ramallah, in the West Bank, the first talk between the two sides were initiated in US presence.
Yasser Abedo Rabbo, PLO spokesperson said, "The negotiations will take one form: shuttling between President Abu Mazen and the Israeli Prime Minister Netanyahu," "As far as we are concerned, the start of the indirect negotiations can be announced today". Netanyahu’s spokesman Nir Hefez has said that the prime minister has appreciated the resumption of peace talks. Netenyahu was quoted as saying "Israel's position was and remains that the talks ought to be conducted without preconditions and should quickly lead to direct negotiations"
Ehud Barak, Israeli defense minister also welcomed the move saying, "I hope and believe that with a responsible approach and determination on both sides to take brave decisions, we will be able to achieve direct negotiations and breakthrough towards peace,"
Palestinian Authority President Mahmoud Abbas’s spokesperson Nabil Abu Rdainah states last week that all issues including the sovereignty of East Jerusalem and the rights of Palestinian refugees would be discussed during the meetings.
On the other hand negotiator Saeb Erekat of Palestine said that Palestinians wanted to give negotiations a chance but the success of the negotiations would depend on Israel. "If the price that we will pay for saying yes to Mitchell will be more settlements and more dictations, that's a big question mark about the possibility of continuing," Erekat said.
United States peace envoy George Mitchell meanwhile has arrived in the region this week and has held two days of discussion with Netanyahu.
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