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Mid-East to hold detailed talks Mid-East sides begin peace talks
(about 3 hours later)
Israeli and Palestinian negotiators are to sit down for peace talks in the first such detailed discussions in almost seven years. Israeli and Palestinian negotiators are preparing for their first formal peace talks in seven years.
The move comes two weeks after the US government hosted an international meeting in Maryland in a bid to restart the long-stalled peace process. The meeting comes two weeks after pledges by the two sides' leaders at Annapolis to seek a deal on a Palestinian state by the end of 2008.
The intention is to complete the negotiations by the end of next year. A BBC correspondent says today's talks are likely to be procedural.
Officials from both sides insist the prize of a viable Palestinian state - and peace - is within reach. However, the Palestinians are likely to raise Israel's plans for new building on occupied territory in East Jerusalem after tenders went out for 300 houses.
Now the hard work begins. Wednesday's talks are likely to centre on working out how the negotiations should be held - who exactly should meet and how often. The plans to expand the Har Homa settlement have been criticised by the American and British governments, and by the European Union.
Deep scepticism New location
The Palestinians will also raise the issue of Israeli plans to continue building on occupied territory - in particular 300 housing units in the southern suburbs of Jerusalem. Wednesday's talks, which begin at 1300 (1000 GMT), will be led by Israeli Foreign Minister Tzipi Livni and former Palestinian Prime Minister Ahmed Qurei.
The plans have already drawn criticism from the US and British governments, among others. Under the roadmap it is obliged to stop settlement activity, including natural growth needs Palestinian leader Mahmoud Abbas class="" href="/1/hi/world/middle_east/7138910.stm">Mechanics of the new talks
The argument underlines the huge difficulties in sorting out the toughest issues - the future of Jerusalem, borders and refugees. "I intend to invest in trying to create a path for dialogue and negotiations with our neighbours," said Israeli Prime Minister Ehud Olmert on Tuesday.
Opinion polls suggest majority support on both sides for agreeing the establishment of a Palestinian state. "At [the US-hosted talks in] Annapolis we initiated an effort, which I hope will mature into ongoing and serious dialogue."
But they also reflect deep scepticism that the negotiators can succeed. Reports say Israel has without explanation moved the planned location of the talks from the King David Hotel in West Jerusalem to an undisclosed location, interpreted as a way of lowering their profile.
The talks are likely to centre on working out how future negotiations should be held - who should meet whom and how often.
BBC correspondent Tim Franks in Jerusalem says the argument over 300 homes in Har Homa underlines the huge difficulties in sorting out the toughest issues - the future of Jerusalem, borders, Palestinian refugees and water.
Rocket attack
Palestinian negotiators accused Israel of using the new settlement activity at Har Homa, called Abu Ghneim in Arabic, to sabotage the talks.
"Israel took a step that handicaps and distracts negotiations in launching a tender bid for building at Abu Ghneim," Palestinian Authority President Mahmoud Abbas said in an interview with AFP.
"Under the roadmap it is obliged to stop settlement activity, including natural growth needs."
Palestinian officials also criticised an Israeli incursion into Gaza on Tuesday, one of the largest in months, that killed six militants.
On Wednesday morning, Palestinian militants fired 15 unguided rockets at Israel, reports say, one of which injured a girl with shrapnel.
The Gaza Strip is under control of the militant Hamas movement which refuses to recognise Israel's legitimacy and is excluded from the peace talks.
The Islamist group, which won parliamentary elections in 2006, drove out by force Abbas loyalists from the narrow coastal strip in June, adding another major obstacle in progress towards a two-state solution.