Next four weeks are decisive in Mideast peace talks: source

A Palestinian source, accompanying Palestinian President Mahmoud Abbas in Washington to launch the direct peace talks with Israel, said on Wednesday that the coming four weeks are decisive.

Israeli Radio quoted the Palestinian source, who spoke on condition of anonymity as saying that the members of the Palestinian negotiation team, who are in Washington with Abbas see that reaching an agreement with Israeli Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu "is possible."

However, the source said that the Palestinians decided to low down the ceiling of expectations and wait until the end of September when the Israeli decision of freezing settlement ends.

The source affirmed that President Abbas informed U.S. Secretary of State Hilary Clinton that the Israeli decision of freezing settlement in the Palestinian territories has to be extended.

The source added that U.S. President Barack Obama and President Abbas are sharing the same opinion on the necessity of establishing an independent Palestinian state as soon as possible.

Obama had earlier announced that a progress was achieved during the Middle East talks he is hosting in Washington. Obama's statements were made at a press conference following his meetings with Abbas and Netanyahu.

Source: Xinhua