Palestinians agree to indirect peace talks with Israel

The palestinias agreed on sunday to give indirect peace talks with Israel a chance following months of us-led efforts to lure both sides back to the negotiating table.Yasser Abed Rabbo a senior official in the Palestine Liberation Organisation announced the Palestinians would embark on US-mediated talks but expressed deep scepticism over the prospects of success.The Palestinian leadership has decided to give an opportunity for the American suggestion to hold indirect talks between the Israeli and Palestinian sides.Abed Rabbo told reporters in the West Bank town of Ramallah.But he went on to cite a list of Israeli violations- of previous agreements led by the continuing expansion of settlements that he said would make direct negotiations impossible and could scupper the indirect talks.The decision taken at a PLO executive committee meeting in Ramallah came as US Middle East envoy George Mitchell was meeting with Israeli leaders on his latest trip to the region.US Vice President Joe Biden is also expected this week.The Palestinians approval was expected after Arab foreign ministers last week expressed grudging support for the talks, following months of shuttle diplomacy by Mitchell.Abed Rabbo, the PLO secretary general said the indirect talks would be limited to four months as proposed by the Arab ministers and should focus first on final borders.The Arab position was clear. If there is no real progress within four months there are different options including going directly to the UN Security Council, he said.The Islamist movement Hamas which opposes any talks with Israel and rules Gaza is not a member of the PLO, an umbrella group that includes president Mahmud Abbas's Fatah party and several smaller factions.Palestinian officials had expressed doubts about the talks ahead of the PLO meeting but said they did not want to be seen as hindering US-led efforts to revive peace talks suspended during the December 2008-January 2009 Gaza war.We think it's unlikely that these indirect negotiations with the Netanyahu government will succeed. senior Fatah official Azzam al-Ahmad said.