The indirect format is meant to give the Palestinians the necessary political cover to resume talks. However, they warned they would walk away if the outlines of a border deal with Israel have not emerged after four months. They also ruled out subsequent direct talks without a complete Israeli settlement construction freeze.
“This peace process cannot go on forever,’’ said Palestinian negotiator Saeb Erekat. “Now it’s time for decisions.’’
The decision by the Palestine Liberation Organization to resume talks came a day before Vice President Joseph Biden is to begin the highest-level visit to the area by an Obama administration official.
Israel accepted the indirect talks last week.
Erekat said he did not know when the talks would begin. They are expected to be held with the help of the US Mideast envoy, George Mitchell.
Mitchell, who has made numerous trips to the region over the past year with few signs of progress, was back yesterday, presumably to wrap up preparations for negotiations. The talks will involve shuttling back and forth between the offices of the Israeli government in Jerusalem and the Palestinian government in Ramallah a half hour away.
Ahead of a meeting with Israel’s prime minister, Benjamin Netanyahu, Mitchell said the goal was a “credible, serious, constructive process that will accomplish the objective which we all share: a comprehensive peace in the Middle East.’’
Netanyahu said he hoped direct negotiations would begin soon.
Mitchell was scheduled to meet the Israeli leader again today, and also meet Mahmoud Abbas, the Palestinian president.
Netanyahu welcomed the prospect of negotiations but staked out tougher positions than his predecessor, refusing to consider a partition of Jerusalem and insisting on keeping key areas of the West Bank.
Netanyahu has also resisted a complete settlement construction freeze, agreeing only to curb construction in the West Bank for 10 months, but not in east Jerusalem, the Palestinians’ hoped-for capital.
