Palestinian official: Arab nations give green light to indirect Israeli-Palestinian talks

Arab countries: green light for indirect talks

CAIRO — A senior Palestinian official says Arab foreign ministers have given the green light to indirect Israeli-Palestinian negotiations for a four-month period.

The decision is likely to break the months-long deadlock over resuming peace talks.

The United States has proposed so-called proximity talks to end the impasse between Israelis and Palestinians over the conditions for resuming negotiations.

Palestinian negotiator Saeb Erekat said Wednesday Arab foreign ministers in Cairo agreed to back the indirect talks for a period of four months. Erekat says the ministers are to meet after that time for a review.

Abbas will now return to the West Bank to get backing from his Fatah movement. Such approval is largely seen as a formality.