’Israel’, Palestinian Authority Start Talks in Washington

Local Editor

"Israel's" chief negotiator, minister Tzipi Livni, hailed a "positive" mood at resumed talks with the Palestinians in Washington, the first in three years.

"The atmosphere was positive," she told public radio early on Tuesday after a dinner with her Palestinian counterpart Saeb Erakat hosted by US Secretary of State John Kerry.

"All issues are on the table, but we decided that what was said will stay in the negotiating room and will not go outside," she said.
In parallel, the "Israeli" official claimed that the talks were resuming "not just in response to US pressure but because it's in the interest of both parties."

However, Livni recognized that disagreements within the Zionist entity's right-leaning governing coalition could pose an obstacle to any deal.
"There are ministers who don't want an agreement," she acknowledged.
Hardline ministers have openly opposed the creation of a Palestinian state and have pledged to continue building settlements on occupied Palestinian land.

Deputy interior minister Zeev Elkin, a hawkish member of "Israeli" Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu's right-wing Likud party, told public radio "any change is not necessarily positive for "Israel's" security, and could make it worse."
The talks are set to resume on Tuesday at 3 pm at the State Department building. They will be overseen by US special envoy Martin Indyk and will discuss the outline, timetable and location of the talks. Kerry is set to join the parties two hours later.

On Monday, Palestinian Authority President Mahmoud Abbas said that no "Israeli" settlers or border forces could remain in a future Palestinian state and that Palestinians deem illegal all settlements within the land occupied in the 1967. He made the statements during a visit to Cairo.
Abbas also spoke to UN Secretary General Ban Ki-moon who had met with Livni in New York before the two headed to Washington.

For his part, US President Obama addressed the renewed talks earlier on Monday saying "This is a promising step forward, though hard work and hard choices remain ahead."
He further added, "The most difficult work of these negotiations is ahead, and I am hopeful that both the "Israelis" and Palestinians will approach these talks in good faith and with sustained focus and determination."

Source: News Agencies, Edited by website team