Israeli and Palestinian negotiators have accepted invitations from Secretary of State John Kerry to come to Washington to resume their peace talks. The State Department also announced on Sunday that the meetings would begin on Monday night and continue through Tuesday. 

Kerry had called Israeli Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu and Palestinian President Mahmoud Abbas on Sunday to discuss the upcoming talks according to department spokeswoman Jen Psaki. It was Kerry who announced in Amman, Jordan on July 19 that the two sides would finally be starting up their peace talks again after a five-year hiatus. 

"Both leaders have demonstrated a willingness to make difficult decisions that have been instrumental in getting to this point," said Kerry in a statement. "We are grateful for their leadership."

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Justice Minister Tzipi Livni and Yitzhak Molcho will represent Israel in the peace talks while Chief Negotiator Saeb Erekat and Mohammad Shtayyeh will represent the Palestinians. 

This announcement was made just a few hours after Israel released 104 Palestinian prisoners in order to meet a longtime Palestinian demand. 

 

 

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