This article is from the source 'bbc' and was first published or seen on . It will not be checked again for changes.
You can find the current article at its original source at http://news.bbc.co.uk/go/rss/-/1/hi/world/middle_east/7139808.stm
The article has changed 4 times. There is an RSS feed of changes available.
| Version 1 | Version 2 |
|---|---|
| Mid-East sides begin peace talks | Mid-East sides begin peace talks |
| (40 minutes later) | |
| Israeli and Palestinian negotiators have started the first formal peace talks in seven years. | |
| 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 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. |
| A BBC correspondent says today's talks are likely to be procedural. | A BBC correspondent says today's talks are likely to be procedural. |
| 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. | 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. |
| The plans to expand the Har Homa settlement have been criticised by the American and British governments, and by the European Union. | The plans to expand the Har Homa settlement have been criticised by the American and British governments, and by the European Union. |
| New location | New location |
| Wednesday's talks are being led by Israeli Foreign Minister Tzipi Livni and former Palestinian Prime Minister Ahmed Qurei. | |
| Under the roadmap it is obliged to stop settlement activity, including natural growth needs Palestinian leader Mahmoud Abbas Mechanics of the new talks | Under the roadmap it is obliged to stop settlement activity, including natural growth needs Palestinian leader Mahmoud Abbas Mechanics of the new talks |
| "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. | "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. |
| "At [the US-hosted talks in] Annapolis we initiated an effort, which I hope will mature into ongoing and serious dialogue." | "At [the US-hosted talks in] Annapolis we initiated an effort, which I hope will mature into ongoing and serious dialogue." |
| 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. | 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. | 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. | 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 | Rocket attack |
| Palestinian negotiators accused Israel of using the new settlement activity at Har Homa, called Abu Ghneim in Arabic, to sabotage the talks. | 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. | "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." | "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. | 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. | 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 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. | 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. |