Quartet aims to start Mideast talks Sept 2 -source

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Source: Reuters


World powers will invite Israelis and Palestinians to begin direct peace talks on Sept. 2 in Washington, a diplomatic source said on Thursday.

Envoys from the so-called Quartet of powers -- the United States, the European Union, Russia and the United Nations -- agreed the details on Thursday, the source told Reuters. A formal statement would be issued on Friday.

The Israelis and Palestinians were expected to agree to attend, the source said. President Barack Obama would be present at the talks.

Read more: http://www.alertnet.org/thenews/newsdesk/N1998037.htm

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1. I hope this works and doesn't get side-lined

It would make a terrific October Surprise....

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2. Israelis and Palestinians to Resume Talks, Officials Say

http://www.nytimes.com/2010/08/20/world/middleeast/20mideast.html?hp

Secretary of State Hillary Rodham Clinton is expected to announce Friday that Israel and the Palestinians will return to direct negotiations for the first time in 20 months, delivering the Obama administration a small victory in its protracted effort to revive the Middle East peace process, two officials briefed on the situation said Thursday evening.

The Israeli prime minister, Benjamin Netanyahu, and the president of the Palestinian Authority, Mahmoud Abbas, have agreed to place a one-year time limit on the talks, these officials said.

President Obama is expected to invite both leaders to Washington in early September to start the negotiations, which will cover thorny issues like the borders of a new Palestinian state, the political status of Jerusalem, security guarantees for Israel and right of return of Palestinian refugees.

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3. NYT: Israelis and Palestinians to Resume Talks, Officials Say

By MARK LANDLER
Published: August 20, 2010

WASHINGTON — Secretary of State Hillary Rodham Clinton is expected to announce Friday that Israel and the Palestinians will return to direct negotiations for the first time in 20 months, delivering the Obama administration a small victory in its protracted effort to revive the Middle East peace process, two officials briefed on the situation said Thursday evening.

The Israeli prime minister, Benjamin Netanyahu, and the president of the Palestinian Authority, Mahmoud Abbas, have agreed to place a one-year time limit on the talks, these officials said.

President Obama is expected to invite both leaders to Washington in early September to start the negotiations, which will cover thorny issues like the borders of a new Palestinian state, the political status of Jerusalem, security guarantees for Israel and right of return for Palestinian refugees.

The Obama administration declined to confirm the announcement, which was first reported by Reuters, with an official cautioning that final details were still being worked out and that the timing could slip by a day or so.

Full article with embedded links: http://www.nytimes.com/2010/08/21/world/middleeast/21mideast.html?_r=1&partner=rss&emc=rss&src=igw