国际英语新闻：Israeli-Palestinian proximity talks likely to kick off on Saturday or Sunday: source

According to Palestinian sources, Washington will follow up with Mitchell and the two sides on how the proximity talks, which are expected to last for four months, are going. Mitchell will have the right to present proposals and ideas to give a push for the talks to succeed.

The sources also said that after the four-month proximity talks end, the Palestinian leadership will get back to the AL committee for consultations and advices before going for direct negotiations over final status issues, mainly Jerusalem, refugees, settlement, border, security and water.

The sources revealed that the Palestinians would refuse to get into previous details that had been agreed upon during the talks which stopped in December 2008, adding "the Palestinian negotiators, which will be led by President Abbas, would negotiate issues like borders and security."

Political differences between Israel and the Palestinians still exist, mainly on issues related to borders of the future Palestinian state, the situation of East Jerusalem, the settlements and the Palestinian refugees' right to return.

Israel has meanwhile expressed readiness to start the proximity talks with the Palestinians, where Israeli sources at Netanyahu's office told Israel Radio on Friday that the first round of the talks will be initial contacts, during which Israel would stress that security issue will be the major one.

"The Palestinians will oppose the postponement of any of the six permanent status issues, because we had an agreement with the Americans that during the talks, no issue will be excluded either in the direct or in the indirect negotiations with Israel," said Abed Rabbo.