Israelis and Palestinians resumed peace negotiations for the first time in nearly seven years Wednesday. The talks went ahead despite a new outbreak of violence in the Gaza Strip. Early Wednesday, Palestinian gunners fired over 20 homemade rockets toward Israel, causing minor damage and slightly wounding one woman, Israeli officials said. This salvo came hours after Israeli forces ended a broad incursion into the coastal strip that killed six Palestinians.
Additionally, one Palestinian was killed on Wednesday in the central of the Gaza Strip, medical sources said. They added that Sameh al-Aidi, 25, was killed when Israeli tank bombarded a target east al-Maghazi refugee camp, in Central Gaza Strip. According to WAFA, his shattered body was transferred to al-Aqsa hospital.
Israel's incursion along with a plan to expand a neighborhood in east Jerusalem, prompted Palestinian charges that Israel was sabotaging the atmosphere even before the talks began.
According to the AP, Israeli Foreign Ministry spokesman Arye Mekel said the talks got under way around midday. He said both sides wanted to keep the meeting "low key." The talks took place at a Jerusalem hotel and lasted about 90 minutes. The lead negotiators, Israeli Foreign Minister Tzipi Livni and former Palestinian Prime Minister Ahmed Qurei (Abu Ala'a), drove away from the building without commenting to reporters.
