A possible breakthrough in the deadlock over Mid East peace talks as Arab nations give the green light for Palestinians to enter indirect talks with Israel for four months.
The Arab approval gives Palestinian President Mahmoud Abbas the political cover he needed to accept the offer.
Abbas has staunchly rejected direct talks unless Israel calls a complete halt to construction of Jewish settlements in the West Bank and east Jerusalem, and he had been wary of entering even indirect talks without Arab backing.
The gathering of 14 Arab League foreign ministers in Cairo agreed.
Officials said said Arab foreign ministers backed the talks on the condition that they last four months.
The ministers also said the indirect talks, mediated by US officials, should not turn into direct Israeli-Palestinian talks without a total freeze in settlement construction.
The United States proposed the so-called proximity talks to end the impasse between Israelis and Palestinians over the conditions for resuming negotiations, which broke down more than a year ago amid Israel's military offensive on the Gaza Strip.
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Arab Nations Approve Indirect Mideast Talks
03
Mar
2010
Mar
2010
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