Israel, Palestinians to start next round of talks

JERUSALEM - Israeli chief negotiator for peace talks Tzipi Livni said that the next round of talks with the Palestinians will be held in Israel in the second week of August, Israel Radio reported Saturday.

Furthermore, Livni said that Israel intends to release the first batch of Palestinian prisoners before the next round of talks.

Last Sunday, Israeli cabinet approved the release of 104 Palestinian prisoners who were locked up prior to the Oslo Accords in 1993, paving the road for the renewal of the peace talks in Washington on Tuesday.

"The release (of the group of prisoners) will take place between now and then," she said.

The parties reconvened peace talks in Washington on Tuesday, after a three-year halt caused by Israel's settlement construction in the West Bank.

Livni added that she was under the impression that the Palestinians are "serious" about the talks.