Chief Israeli, Palestinian envoys meet in Jordan

Palestinian President Mahmoud Abbas waves to the crowd gathered for the opening of a research center in the West Bank city of Ramallah, Jan. 3, 2012. The chief Israeli and Palestinian peace negotiators are set to meet in Jordan later Tuesday with the goal of laying the groundwork for the resumption of peace talks. Negotiations have been stalled for more than a year. / AP Photo/Nasser Shiyoukhi

AMMAN, Jordan - The chief Israeli and Palestinian peace negotiators on Tuesday were holding their first face-to-face meeting in more than a year, searching for a formula to restart long-stalled negotiations.

With prospects for a breakthrough appearing dim, the Palestinian president threatened to take "new measures" against Israel at the end of the month. Nonetheless, Tuesday's meeting, in the presence of international diplomats, marked the strongest chance in months for reviving talks.

Jordan's Foreign Ministry said Israel's Yitzhak Molcho and Palestinian envoy Saeb Erekat met with envoys from the "Quartet" of Mideast mediators — the United States, Russia, the European Union and the United Nations.

Afterward, the two men met in the presence of their Jordanian host, Foreign Minister Nasser Judeh, to exchange positions on key issues of security and borders between Israel and a future Palestinian state.

A diplomat who attended the larger meeting said the talks were "serious."

"It was a brainstorming session in which both sides, the Israelis and Palestinians, showed eagerness to restart peace negotiations," the diplomat said. He declined to elaborate and insisted on anonymity, saying a public comment could adversely affect the sensitive meeting.

The Quartet has been working for months to restart peace talks. The international group hopes to broker a final peace agreement by the end of the year.

At the United Nations, Secretary-General Ban Ki-moon welcomed Tuesday's talks. "The secretary-general encourages the parties to build on this meeting and to continue working to establish forward momentum toward a lasting peace," said a statement issued by his office.

For now, simply restarting a peace process would mark a significant achievement. Negotiations broke down in September 2010 after the expiration of an Israeli settlement slowdown.

The Palestinians have refused to return to the table while Israel builds settlements in the West Bank and east Jerusalem — areas captured by Israel in the 1967 Mideast war that the Palestinians hope to make part of a future state. They also want Israel to commit to returning to its pre-1967 war lines as the basis for final borders.

The international community has largely backed the Palestinian positions on settlements and borders, but stopped short of making them conditions for restarting talks.

Ahead of Tuesday's meeting, Palestinian President Mahmoud Abbas said that if Israel accepts his conditions, "we will go to negotiations." He said the Palestinians have set a Jan. 26 deadline for talks to resume. "After that date, we will take new measures. These measures might be hard," he said.

Abbas said no decision has been made yet. Palestinian officials have said they are considering resuming their push for U.N. membership as well as ways to isolate Israel at the United Nations, such as a new resolution condemning Israeli settlements in the West Bank and east Jerusalem.

The Palestinians asked the U.N. Security Council last September to admit them as a full member state in the U.N., but the U.N. bid failed to gain enough support in the 15-member council. The Palestinians have said as an alternative, they will seek enhanced observer status at the U.N.

While acknowledging the measure is largely symbolic, the Palestinians believe a strong international endorsement would bolster their position if peace talks resume. Israel has strongly opposed the Palestinian efforts at the U.N., saying an independent Palestinian state can be created only through negotiations.

Israeli officials declined comment while the meeting was under way. Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu has consistently rejected the Palestinian demands about settlement construction, saying talks should begin immediately without preconditions.

It was not known whether either envoy would present a new formula that might be able to bridge the divide.

In September, the Quartet set forth a four-month target for the sides to present proposals on the key issues of future borders and security arrangements. The Palestinians believe the timeline expires on Jan. 26. Israel says the clock doesn't start ticking until negotiations are under way.

The meeting comes as Abbas is trying to reconcile with the militant Hamas group, which seized control of the Gaza Strip from forces loyal to Abbas in 2007. Israel has warned it will not negotiate with a Palestinian government that includes Hamas, which it considers a terrorist group. Hamas, which is committed to Israel's destruction, called on Abbas to call off Tuesday's meeting.

Jordan's King Abdullah II has implored Israel and Palestinians to resume peace talks. Abdullah is worried about the growing influence of Islamic groups in the Middle East and fears that continued deadlock in peace efforts could strengthen radicals.

Ahead of Tuesday's meeting, 13 Jordanian opposition groups comprising Muslim fundamentalists and leftist groups called for a demonstration against the talks. The groups said the Palestinians must instead carry out a third uprising or armed resistance against Israel.

Jordan has a peace treaty with Israel.

[JoseGonzalezDoritos]

The Palestinian people are a criminal race that should be kept in check, permanently. Their extremist beliefs are distorted to say the least. They talk like they are being kept from something that is theirs. They simply can't accept that things are the way they are. Israel will allow them to exist, but will NEVER, EVER, give up any portion of their capitol, Jeruselem. Until the Palestinians accept this as a permanent reality, they will never have peace. Beggers can't be choosers. The behavior of the Palestinians will never change and they will never be trustable!!!

[JoseGonzalezDoritos]

@economic, Thank you for the ancient history lesson. It is interesting. It has no relevance to the modern day, but thanks anyway.

[mjlewis6]

Ethnic cleansing of Palestinian areas by Israel should be recognized and condemned. The Israeli "settlements" will have to be negotiated for land swaps, but I suspect even this ethnic cleansing method should be recognized for what it is.

The US had its "Trail of Tears" removing Indian Tribes from the Southern US States with a LYING President Andrew Jackson, so I do not expect the Israelis to do any less regarding their "peaceful" settlements on Palestinian lands.

Rather, those Israeli citizens should submit to Palestinian Authority for permission to remain in the new State because as a hostile enclave, it will not be tolerated anymore than Israel will tolerate a terrorist state in Palestine.

[antoniof123]

If Jordan and Egypt have a treaty with Isreal; what is the problem just follow the same condition then everyone is happy.

Isreal / Palestin you can't have it all your way for this to work you have to work together and stop with nonsense that will never happen.

Stop insulting and work together or it is going to have a bad ending.