Arab League backs talks about talks

Arab foreign ministers have given their backing to US plans for indirect talks to take place between the Israelis and Palestinians.

US officials say they hope the discussions will start “shortly”.

Senior Palestinian official Saeb Erekat says ministers have agreed to back four month long talks to end the impasse between Israelis and Palestinians over the conditions for resuming peace negotiations.

Erekat says the ministers will meet again in Cairo after that time to assess the progress. The decision is likely to break the months-long deadlock over resuming peace talks.

Palestinian President Mahmoud Abbas has demanded a full halt to settlement building in the West Bank and East Jerusalem before discussions are fully resumed.

Israel has rejected this, imposing a temporary freeze on some expansion.

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