Israel, Palestinians to resume direct talks

Israel and Palestine have agreed to resume direct negotiations for the first time in 20 months.



According to US Secretary of State Hillary Clinton Israeli Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu and Palestinian Authority President Mahmoud Abbas have been invited to Washington on September 2 to start the talks.



They have agreed to place a one-year time limit on the direct negotiations.



However, correspondents say prospects of a comprehensive deal are slim, as serious disagreements exist on the core issues.



They include the construction of Jewish settlements on occupied territory, the status of Jerusalem and the borders of a future Palestinian state.



Clinton says President Barack Obama had been encouraged by the leadership of Netanyahu and Abbas, and had invited them to Washington to relaunch direct negotiations to resolve all final status issues.