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Palestinian and Israeli negotiators hold first meeting in more than a year
Palestinian and Israeli representatives meet in Jordan on Tuesday in an effort to relaunch peace negotiations between the two sides after more than a year of deadlock.
Palestinian chief negotiator, Saeb Erekat played down hopes for the peace talks
Israeli envoy Yitzhak Molcho and Palestinian chief negotiator Saeb Erekat will hold talks alongside representatives of the Middle East Quartet composed of the United States, the European Union, the United Nations and Russia.
Peace talks between the two sides fell apart more than a year ago over disagreements on the issue of Israeli settlements in the West Bank. The Palestinians walked out in protest at the building of Jewish settlements in the occupied West Bank.
Almost 500,000 Jews live in settlements on occupied territory. The settlements are illegal under international law, although Israel disputes this.
However, officials from both sides have played down the prospect of any imminent resumption in peace talks.
Representatives of Hamas, which runs the Gaza Strip, have condemned the meeting and will not participate in the negotiations.
