Israeli, Palestinian negotiators meet in Jordan

Amman's Foreign Ministry says Yitzhak Molcho, Saeb Erekat resume preliminary peace talks in effort to break deadlock

Elior Levy, AFP|Published: 04.05.12 , 14:44

Jordanian Foreign Minister Nasser Judeh said Thursday that Israel and the Palestinian Authority have renewed the preliminary peace talks in Amman.

Jordan has been pushing chief Israeli and Palestinian negotiators Yitzhak Molcho and Saeb Erekat to resume discussions on the peace process, after a round of talks held in January this year deadlocked.

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"Israeli and Palestinian officials met last night in Amman for discussions," a Foreign Ministry official said, but declined to give additional details.

A Foreign Ministry source confirmed that a meeting took place, but said it was held in Jerusalem.

On Wednesday Judeh told Jordan's State television that "Jordanian diplomacy has succeeded in breaking the deadlock as the two sides are having discussions now. They are discussions and not talks.

"Jordan is following up on these discussions and their outcome. We are seeking to help the two sides go back to direct negotiations," he said.

Direct talks between Israel and the Palestinians have been on hold since September 2010, but Jordan and the peacemaking Quartet sponsored several rounds of meetings between envoys from each side in January.

Israeli and Palestinian officials said on Wednesday that Israeli Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu is to meet with Palestinian premier Salam Fayyad in coming weeks.

Israel says it wants to return to the talks without preconditions, but the Palestinians want clear parameters for discussions and an Israeli settlement freeze before they resume negotiations.