A senior Palestinian official today declared the start of indirect Palestinian-Israeli talks mediated by the United States.
"I can officially declare today that the proximity talks have begun," chief Palestinian negotiator Saeb Erekat said.
He was speaking after a meeting between US Middle East envoy George Mitchell and Palestinian President Mahmoud Abbas.
Mr Mitchell will mediate the talks.
Earlier, Israeli prime minister Benjamin Netanyahu said peace with the Palestinians would be impossible without direct negotiations. He called for a swift move from indirect talks to face-to-face contacts.
"The proximity talks must bring about direct talks soon. Peace cannot be brought about from a distance, or with a remote control," Mr Netanyahu told his cabinet.
The Palestine Liberation Organisation (PLO) yesterday approved indirect talks with Israel, clearing the way for the first negotiations in 18 months.
Mr Mitchell proposed the indirect format as a way to break an impasse over Jewish settlement construction on Israeli-occupied land where the Palestinians aim to establish a state alongside Israel.
The initiative was going ahead after US plans for indirect talks were stymied in March, when Israel announced plans for new settler homes in and around East Jerusalem, part of the territory claimed by the Palestinians.
The Palestinian leadership has demanded a freeze on such projects.
Mr Netanyahu said the indirect talks would begin "without preconditions", an indirect reference to his pledge not to curb construction of homes for Jews in and near East Jerusalem, restrictions that could tear apart his pro-settler government.
But no new Israeli housing projects in East Jerusalem have been approved since March, raising speculation that Mr Netanyahu has imposed a de facto moratorium.
In his remarks to the cabinet on talks with the Palestinians, Mr Netanyahu said no one should expect that "we will arrive at decisions and agreements on matters that are critical ... without sitting together in the same room."
Reuters