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U.S. Pushing for Direct Israeli-Palestinian Talks
(Ha'aretz) Natasha Mozgovaya, Barak Ravid and Jack Khoury - After Palestinian negotiator Saeb Erekat announced on Saturday that "the proximity talks have begun," sources close to Prime Minister Netanyahu said Israel promised the U.S. to discuss all the core issues and to take confidence-building steps toward the Palestinians. On the other hand, sources said, the U.S. has promised Israel that the core issues would be resolved only after proximity talks progress to direct talks. Netanyahu told his cabinet on Sunday: "It is impossible to make peace at a distance." No one should expect that "we will arrive at decisions and agreements on matters that are critical...without sitting together in the same room." Senior U.S. officials have told the Palestinians that Washington also believes direct talks between Israel and the Palestinians must begin as soon as possible. The Obama administration has informed Abbas that it will not unveil mediation proposals or a Middle East peace plan before the start of direct, substantive talks between the two sides on final-status issues, a high-level Israeli official said.