BICOM

Substantive peace talks between Israel and the Palestinian Authority (PA) resumed yesterday evening for the first time in three years, although the details of the negotiations were deliberately kept under wraps.

Even the exact time and location of yesterday’s talks was unconfirmed, as both sides agreed to a media blackout in order to avoid leaks and speculation which could hamper the negotiations. However, Israel’s Prime Minister’s Office did publish a photograph of Justice Minister Tzipi Livni, Prime Minister Netanyahu’s envoy Yitzhak Molcho and senior Palestinian negotiator Saeb Erekat at last night’s talks. It is unclear whether United States’ envoy to the talks Martin Indyk also attended, with some reports indicating that he was not present, but received detailed reports from both sides. Army Radio says that the talks began at around 7pm local time and lasted for around five hours.

Several reports quote sources who were briefed on the discussions, characterising them as “serious” and that the two sides had agreed to meet again in the West Bank “soon.” Haaretz reports that the overall guidelines for talks were discussed and that each side presented their positions on some of the issues.

Earlier in the day, Justice Minister Livni commented on the talks, “We are committed to making the effort, for the sake of the people the State of Israel and its values. It’s going to be complex and complicated, but I’m not ready to give up.”

Yesterday’s meeting was preceded by Israel’s release of twenty six Palestinian prisoners on Tuesday night, after the PA had made it a condition to attending recent preliminary talks in Washington.  Meanwhile, following Palestinian criticism of Israeli settlement construction plans announced earlier this week, US Secretary of State John Kerry said that Prime Minister Netanyahu had been “completely upfront with me and with [PA] President Abbas that he would be announcing some additional building” in areas which “will not affect the peace map.”