Israeli and Palestinian officials are expected to be invited to meet in Washington next month for their first direct talks in a year and a half, according to media reports. Formal announcements are anticipated from the US state department and the quartet of Middle East peace negotiators - the UN, Russia the EU and the United States - regarding developments later on Friday.
According to unnamed diplomatic sources quoted by Reuters news agency, the two sides could hold their first face-to-face meeting on September 2 in Washington DC.
Barack Obama, the US president, would reportedly be present at the talks. Israeli media are reporting that Mahmoud Abbas, the Palestinian president, and Binyamin Netanyahu, Israel's prime minister, have agreed to place a one-year deadline on the talks.
Many other details of the negotiations are still unclear, however, particularly whether the US has provided guarantees for either side.
TVNL Comment. Ho hum. Another opening of another show....