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Negotiators, including Israel’s Justice Minister Tzipi Livni and senior Palestinian representative Saeb Erekat reportedly met yesterday in the most recent discussions towards brokering an agreement between the two sides.

Several media outlets reported that talks took place yesterday, with Palestinian Maan news agency saying that both sides took the opportunity to present their views on a variety of issues. However, there was no response from Israel’s Prime Minister’s Office, which would not even confirm that the meeting took place. A strict media blackout surrounding negotiations has so far been adhered to, in order to guard against potential leaks and speculation which could hamper the negotiations.

Details of the negotiations have been sparse, but it is thought that several rounds of talks have taken place during the last month between Israel’s Justice Minister Tzipi Livni, Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu’s envoy Yitzhak Molcho and senior Palestinian negotiators Saeb Erekat and Mohammed Shtayyeh. Israeli media reports suggested that Livni and Erekat also met on Saturday evening in Jerusalem.

Apparently, the talks have so far focused on the agenda for negotiations, its modalities and framework with little discussion yet on substantive issues. Israel Radio reported that Palestinian Authority (PA) President Mahmoud Abbas said that talks have reached a “review of positions.” Speaking yesterday at a Jewish New Year reception at the Samaria Regional Council in the West Bank, Israel’s Defence Minister Moshe Ya’alon commented that the current peace talks “are not dealing with the evacuation of [West Bank] settlements.”

On Sunday, the US State Department made rare comment on the peace talks. State Department spokeswoman Jen Psaki said that “Israeli and Palestinian delegations have been meeting continuously” and that “The negotiations have been serious.” She also confirmed the direct participation of US Special Envoy Martin Indyk in the talks.