Post, adding that Israel hoped direct talks would start over the weekend or at least by next week."} 62:{"position":5,"content":"The Palestinians, in contrast, want to push forward on the basis of a March 19 Quartet statement, which they assume would be reiterated now, including the Quartet’s support for dividing Jerusalem and calling on Israel to halt settlement construction."} 63:{"position":6,"content":"The PA has asked the US to agree to this proposal as well."} 64:{"position":7,"content":"As of press time, David Hale, an assistant to US special envoy George Mitchell, was meeting with PA President Mahmoud Abbas."} 65:{"position":8,"content":"He was expected to deliver the US response to the Palestinian proposal. Palestinian officials told the Post late Sunday night that Abbas had decided to call a meeting of the PLO Executive Committee to discuss whether to enter direct talks with Israel."} 66:{"position":9,"content":"The committee is likely to meet Monday or Tuesday, and Abbas is not expected to state his position on direct talks until after the meeting."} 67:{"position":10,"content":"Should Abbas agree to resume direct negotiations with Israel, which broke off in December 2008, it would be on the understanding that Israel would extend the 10- month moratorium on new settlement construction past its expiration date of September 26."} 68:{"position":11,"content":"

The PA, however, is expected to back away from its demand that Israel halt all settlement construction as a precondition for talks, and settle instead for a statement by the Quartet that Israel should not be building in West Bank settlements."} 69:{"position":12,"content":"An Israeli official, however, said that Netanyahu had not changed his stance that the moratorium would end on September 26.

Israel to reject preconditions

Abbas to hold PLO C'tee meeting before deciding on direct talks.