Final status negotiations commence between Palestinians and Israelis

Final status negotiations started today between the Palestinians and the Israelis and focused at the beginning on procedural matters and drawing up an agenda for the later sessions.

El-Tayeb Abd El-Rahman, the secretary general of the Palestinian presidency, said there is a Palestinian commitment to UN resolutions and the agreements signed between the Palestinian and Israeli sides, expressing his hope of Israel's commitment to these and adding that convening a US - Israeli - Palestinian trilateral summit in November is subject to progress in these negotiations.

He also stated that Israel might make some efforts in an attempt to convince the international community of progress in negotiations in order to obtain financial gains.