The Palestine Liberation Organisation (PLO) on Saturday approved indirect talks with Israel, clearing the way for the first negotiations in 18 months and giving a boost to U.S. peace diplomacy, according to Reuters. The PLO executive committee, meeting in Ramallah in the occupied West Bank, approved the so-called "proximity" talks, whose launch may be announced later on Saturday and will be mediated by U.S. Middle East envoy George Mitchell. The Arab League last week approved four months of indirect negotiations. "As far as we are concerned, the start of the indirect negotiations can be announced today," said Yasser Abed Rabbo, a member of the PLO committee and veteran peace negotiator, after the several-hour session had ended. "The negotiations will take one form: shuttling between President Abu Mazen and the Israeli Prime Minister Netanyahu," Abed Rabbo added, referring to Palestinian President Mahmoud Abbas and Israeli Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu. -- SPA
