PLO agrees to US-mediated peace talks with Israel

A SCEPTICAL Palestinian leadership agreed yesterday to hold US-mediated peace talks with Israel for four months, effectively ending a 14-month breakdown in communications between the two sides.

The decision marks a first achievement for US diplomacy in the Israeli-Palestinian arena. However, the Palestinians warned they would walk away if the outlines of a border deal with Israel have not emerged after four months.

They also ruled out subsequent direct talks without a complete Israeli settlement construction freeze.