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| Middle East peace talks under way | Middle East peace talks under way |
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| Israeli and Palestinian negotiators are beginning intensive talks in Washington on Tuesday aimed at reviving the moribund Middle East peace process amid warnings that this could be the last chance to reach an agreement to end the historic conflict. | Israeli and Palestinian negotiators are beginning intensive talks in Washington on Tuesday aimed at reviving the moribund Middle East peace process amid warnings that this could be the last chance to reach an agreement to end the historic conflict. |
| As the two teams met on Monday evening for an iftar meal hosted by the US secretary of state, John Kerry, to mark the end of the Ramadan fast, the preliminary talks were welcomed in the first formal, albeit cautious, statement from President Barak Obama since the two sides agreed 10 days ago to sit down together. | As the two teams met on Monday evening for an iftar meal hosted by the US secretary of state, John Kerry, to mark the end of the Ramadan fast, the preliminary talks were welcomed in the first formal, albeit cautious, statement from President Barak Obama since the two sides agreed 10 days ago to sit down together. |
| "This is a promising step forward, though hard work and hard choices remain ahead," Obama said. "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." | "This is a promising step forward, though hard work and hard choices remain ahead," Obama said. "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." |
| A senior state department official described the private dinner, which lasted an hour and a half, as a "constructive and productive meeting". | |
| The nine guests, consisting of the two lead negotiators from each delegation, and officials from the State Department and White House, dined on grilled fish and iced tea. | |
| More substantive talks were scheduled for Tuesday morning, after which the parties are expected to make their first public statement about the progress of negotiations. | |
| US sponsorship of the renewed talks, along with Kerry's personal drive and commitment, has been a critical factor in persuading the two sides to meet. Obama stressed that the US "stands ready to support them throughout these negotiations". | US sponsorship of the renewed talks, along with Kerry's personal drive and commitment, has been a critical factor in persuading the two sides to meet. Obama stressed that the US "stands ready to support them throughout these negotiations". |
| Tuesday's preliminary talks will focus on the remit, scope, location and timeframe of formal negotiations. If sufficient progress is made Kerry hopes to be able to announce the first face to face meeting between the Israeli prime minister, Binyamin Netanayhu, and the Palestinian president, Mahmoud Abbas, for almost three years. | Tuesday's preliminary talks will focus on the remit, scope, location and timeframe of formal negotiations. If sufficient progress is made Kerry hopes to be able to announce the first face to face meeting between the Israeli prime minister, Binyamin Netanayhu, and the Palestinian president, Mahmoud Abbas, for almost three years. |
| Both sides have agreed to refrain from making public comments on the substance of the talks. However Abbas said in Cairo that a final agreement between the two sides must include a total Israeli military and civilian withdrawal from the territory of a future Palestinian state. | Both sides have agreed to refrain from making public comments on the substance of the talks. However Abbas said in Cairo that a final agreement between the two sides must include a total Israeli military and civilian withdrawal from the territory of a future Palestinian state. |
| "In a final resolution we would not see the presence of a single Israeli – civilian or soldier – on our lands," Abbas said in a media briefing. | "In a final resolution we would not see the presence of a single Israeli – civilian or soldier – on our lands," Abbas said in a media briefing. |
| Israel has previously said it wants to keep a military presence in the Jordan Valley to create a security buffer between a Palestinian state and neighbouring Jordan. | Israel has previously said it wants to keep a military presence in the Jordan Valley to create a security buffer between a Palestinian state and neighbouring Jordan. |
| Any formal negotiations that follow Tuesday's talks are expected to focus initially on the issue of borders. The Palestinians and the US want the pre-1967 line to be the basis for negotiations, with agreed land swaps to compensate for deviations. Israel has so far refused to commit to this. | Any formal negotiations that follow Tuesday's talks are expected to focus initially on the issue of borders. The Palestinians and the US want the pre-1967 line to be the basis for negotiations, with agreed land swaps to compensate for deviations. Israel has so far refused to commit to this. |
| Other, even more difficult, issues – such as the future of Jerusalem, which both sides want as a capital, and whether any of the 4.9m Palestinian refugees can return to their former homes, now in Israel – would have to be addressed over the coming months. | Other, even more difficult, issues – such as the future of Jerusalem, which both sides want as a capital, and whether any of the 4.9m Palestinian refugees can return to their former homes, now in Israel – would have to be addressed over the coming months. |
| Obama's statement on Monday warmly endorsed Kerry's choice of Martin Indyk, a former US ambassador to Israel, as the US "envoy" during the talks, saying he brought "unique experience and insight to this role". | Obama's statement on Monday warmly endorsed Kerry's choice of Martin Indyk, a former US ambassador to Israel, as the US "envoy" during the talks, saying he brought "unique experience and insight to this role". |
| In announcing Indyk's appointment Kerry said: "He knows what has worked and he knows what hasn't worked. And he knows how important it is to get this right." | In announcing Indyk's appointment Kerry said: "He knows what has worked and he knows what hasn't worked. And he knows how important it is to get this right." |
| The secretary of state added: "Going forward it is no secret that this is a difficult process – if it was easy it would have happened a long time ago. It's no secret therefore that many difficult choices therefore lie ahead for the negotiators, and for the leaders, and as we seek reasonable compromises on tough, complicated, emotional and symbolic issues." | The secretary of state added: "Going forward it is no secret that this is a difficult process – if it was easy it would have happened a long time ago. It's no secret therefore that many difficult choices therefore lie ahead for the negotiators, and for the leaders, and as we seek reasonable compromises on tough, complicated, emotional and symbolic issues." |
| Indyk, a fellow at the Brookings Institution policy thinktank, said the objective of the talks was eventually to allow for "two states living side by side in peace and security". He described the goal as a "daunting and humbling challenge". | Indyk, a fellow at the Brookings Institution policy thinktank, said the objective of the talks was eventually to allow for "two states living side by side in peace and security". He described the goal as a "daunting and humbling challenge". |
| Indyk will be assisted by Frank Lowenstein, a former Senate foreign relations committee chief of staff who has aided Kerry in recent months in his concerted effort to persuade Israel and the Palestinians to get around the table, and Philip Gordon, a senior White House official. | Indyk will be assisted by Frank Lowenstein, a former Senate foreign relations committee chief of staff who has aided Kerry in recent months in his concerted effort to persuade Israel and the Palestinians to get around the table, and Philip Gordon, a senior White House official. |
| The Israeli negotiating team is led by justice minister Tzipi Livni plus prime ministerial aide Isaac Molcho. Veteran negotiator Saeb Erekat is leading for the Palestinians, assisted by Mohammed Shtayyeh. | The Israeli negotiating team is led by justice minister Tzipi Livni plus prime ministerial aide Isaac Molcho. Veteran negotiator Saeb Erekat is leading for the Palestinians, assisted by Mohammed Shtayyeh. |
| Tuesday's talks are expected to resume as early as 8am and conclude in the afternoon. The state department has described the meeting as "an opportunity to develop a procedural workplan for how the parties can proceed with the negotiations in the coming months". | Tuesday's talks are expected to resume as early as 8am and conclude in the afternoon. The state department has described the meeting as "an opportunity to develop a procedural workplan for how the parties can proceed with the negotiations in the coming months". |
| Jen Psaki, the department's spokeswoman, said that both sides had agreed to a "timetable" of nine months, although she stressed it was "not a deadline". | Jen Psaki, the department's spokeswoman, said that both sides had agreed to a "timetable" of nine months, although she stressed it was "not a deadline". |
| She added: "Time is not our ally, which is why we are working so hard on this issue now. As time passes, the situation on the ground becomes more complicated. Mistrust deepens and hardens, and the conflict becomes even harder to resolve. It allows vacuums to be filled by bad actors who want to undermine our efforts." | She added: "Time is not our ally, which is why we are working so hard on this issue now. As time passes, the situation on the ground becomes more complicated. Mistrust deepens and hardens, and the conflict becomes even harder to resolve. It allows vacuums to be filled by bad actors who want to undermine our efforts." |
| A hurdle to the negotiators' meeting was cleared on Sunday when the Israeli cabinet agreed to release 104 long-term Palestinian prisoners , a decision which was highly controversial in Israel. The first of four groups of prisoners are expected to be released shortly before Eid al-Fitr, the Muslim holiday that marks the end of the holy month of Ramadan next week. The rest will be freed at staged intervals over the next nine months, assuming progress is made in negotiations. | A hurdle to the negotiators' meeting was cleared on Sunday when the Israeli cabinet agreed to release 104 long-term Palestinian prisoners , a decision which was highly controversial in Israel. The first of four groups of prisoners are expected to be released shortly before Eid al-Fitr, the Muslim holiday that marks the end of the holy month of Ramadan next week. The rest will be freed at staged intervals over the next nine months, assuming progress is made in negotiations. |
| Kerry referred to the "courage" of leaders in both Israel and Palestine overcoming reservations about the talks. He said of Netanyahu and Abbas: "I salute both of them for their willingness to make difficult decisions and to advocate within their own countries and with their own leadership teams." | Kerry referred to the "courage" of leaders in both Israel and Palestine overcoming reservations about the talks. He said of Netanyahu and Abbas: "I salute both of them for their willingness to make difficult decisions and to advocate within their own countries and with their own leadership teams." |
| Kerry then corrected himself: "Countries – the Palestinian territories," he said. It is the second time in the space of a week that Kerry has inadvertently referred to the Palestinian territory as a "country". | Kerry then corrected himself: "Countries – the Palestinian territories," he said. It is the second time in the space of a week that Kerry has inadvertently referred to the Palestinian territory as a "country". |
| Kerry said it had taken "many hours and many trips" to resume the talks between the negotiating teams, which were on flights to Washington. | Kerry said it had taken "many hours and many trips" to resume the talks between the negotiating teams, which were on flights to Washington. |
| "I know the negotiations are going to be tough," he said. "But I also know that the consequences of not trying could be worse." | "I know the negotiations are going to be tough," he said. "But I also know that the consequences of not trying could be worse." |
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