US says Israel, Palestinians to resume peace talks

[cal04]

Source: Associated Press

Israel and the Palestinians have agreed to resume long-stalled direct peace negotiations, Obama administration officials said Friday as Secretary of State Hillary Rodham Clinton prepared to invite the two sides to talks in Washington early next month.

Clinton and U.S. special Mideast peace envoy George Mitchell were to announce the breakthrough at a news conference, officials said, followed by a statement of support from the "Quartet" of Middle East peacemakers and acceptances from Israel and the Palestinians.

Officials speaking on condition of anonymity ahead of the formal announcement said the two sides would gather in Washington at President Barack Obama's request on Sept. 2 with the goal of reaching a settlement in a year's time. Subsequent rounds of talks could be held elsewhere, they said.

The Obama administration has been pushing for a speedy resumption of the face-to-face negotiations that broke down in December 2008. Mitchell has been shuttling between Israeli Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu and Palestinian President Mahmoud Abbas for months in a bid to get them to agree.

Read more: http://news.yahoo.com/s/ap/us_us_mideast

[PDJane]

1. And what will they offer palestinians this time?

Will they offer anything worthwhile? Territory, water, will they offer to get the hell out of Jerusalem? Not unless they are beaten about the head with something like taking away their foreign aid.

It's another charade, I'm afraid.

[Scurrilous]

2. Good news.

K & R :thumbsup: