A Palestinian boy holds a placard in front of Israeli police officers during a protest against Jewish settlement in the Sheikh Jarrah neighbourhood in East Jerusalem April 30, 2010 (REUTERS)
CAIRO (Asharq Al-Awsat and Agencies) – The Palestinians are seeking the Arab League’s backing Saturday to resume peace talks with Israel through a U.S. mediator.
A first attempt to get indirect talks going collapsed last month when Israel announced a new Jewish housing project in east Jerusalem, which the Palestinians claim as a future capital. That drew fierce criticism from the United States and led to the worst rift in decades between Washington and its chief Mideast ally.
Foreign ministers from several top Arab League member nations will meet in Cairo Saturday to decide whether to endorse the indirect talks.
Foreign Affairs Minister of the Palestinian National Authority Riyad al Maliki told Asharq Al-Awsat that a Palestinian decision regarding resuming negotiations was yet to be made and that the US proposals would be first reviewed during the Arab Ministers meeting in order to reach a decision. He further indicated that the Executive Committee of the Palestinian Liberation Organization was also yet to make a decision or hold any meetings in this regard.
On his part, Secretary General of the Arab League Amr Moussa announced Friday that the committee’s meeting would discuss the US proposals made to the Palestinian side in light of recent developments to resume the peace process in order to make the right Arab decision in that regard.
Palestinian President Mahmoud Abbas signaled earlier in the week that he would be willing to resume negotiations.
A Palestinian demonstrator uses a slingshot to throw stones at Israeli soldiers, not pictured, during a protest over water supplies in the West Bank village of Nabi Salah, April 30, 2010 (AP)
Israeli Arab women fly kites during an opening of a new public park in Jaffa, south of Tel Aviv, Israel, April 30, 2010 (AP)