EU presidency hails Mideast peace talk moves

The Spanish EU presidency Sunday hailed moves to start indirect peace talks between Israel and the Palestinians.

Spain, which holds the six-month rotating presidency of the EU, “welcomes with satisfaction the latest developments around the peace process in the Middle East,” an official source said.

It welcomes “the impetus given by the parties to make possible the indirect proximity talks.

“The EU supports all efforts to ensure that negotiations begin as soon as possible. It works and will work in this context with all players in the region.”

Israeli and Palestinian officials said earlier Sunday they expect to start indirect peace talks within days, after Arab states endorsed a US-brokered plan to end the impasse and US guarantees apparently persuaded the Palestinians to lift their objections.

The decision would end more than a year without negotiations between the sides and at least one false start at getting them back to talks.