Mideast talks will resume, U.S. says

Associated Press

JERUSALEM

The U.S. on Sunday announced the resumption of Israeli-Palestinian talks after years of stalemate, after Israel’s Cabinet agreed to release 104 Palestinian prisoners convicted of deadly attacks.

The return to direct contacts between the sides gave U.S. Secretary of State John Kerry his first concrete achievement after months of shuttle diplomacy.

The U.S. said preliminary talks would begin today, but it remains unclear whether they will lead to a formal resumption of peace talks that broke down in 2008.

Despite a return to the table, neither side appeared upbeat. Each has blamed the other for the lack of success in 20 years of negotiations interrupted by bouts of violence.

Earlier Sunday, the Israeli Cabinet voted 13-7, with two abstentions, to approve in principle the release of 104 Palestinian prisoners. The release is a key part of the Kerry-brokered deal to restart peace talks.

The State Department said Kerry called Israeli Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu and Palestinian President Mahmoud Abbas after the Cabinet vote and invited them to send teams to Washington.

State Department spokeswoman Jan Psaki said the teams would meet today and Tuesday to “develop a procedural plan for how the parties can proceed with the negotiations in the coming months.”

Talks on a final peace deal are to last six to nine months.

Chief Palestinian negotiator Saeb Erekat and Abbas aide Mohammed Shtayyeh will represent the Palestinians, and Justice Minister Tzipi Livni and adviser Yitzhak Molcho will attend for Israel.

Netanyahu, seeking to overcome stiff opposition from ultra-nationalists, told his Cabinet that “resuming the political process at this time is important for Israel,” noting that any deal would be submitted to a national referendum.