Israelis and Palestinians hold peace talks

Senior Israeli and Palestinian officials, including Prime Minister Ariel Sharon’s son and Yasser Arafat’s security adviser, were meeting in London today at the start of a two-day conference on implementation of a US-backed peace plan.

Israeli Labour Party lawmaker Ephraim Sneh said the sides were invited by the British Government to present their positions and discuss the Israeli-Palestinian conflict. He described the talks as “not academic” but also not official peace negotiations.