Palestinian leader Mahmud Abbas yesterday won a green light from the PLO to launch US-brokered indirect peace talks with Israel, despite opposition from several factions.
The Palestine Liberation Organisation's executive committee has decided "to approve participation in indirect talks" with the Jewish state, Abbas adviser Yasser Abed Rabbo said.
A majority of delegates at the meeting of the umbrella group endorsed the "proximity talks", according to Abed Rabbo, although the PLO appeared split ahead of the gathering between Abbas's dominant Fatah party and other factions.
The endorsement "aims at giving the peace process a serious chance" and is based on US "guarantees and assurances concerning (Jewish) settlements, the danger they represent and the need to halt them," he said.
"The United States will adopt a firm position towards any provocation which could impact the peace process and the negotiations," he added.
The Palestinians were expected to deliver their formal acceptance later yesterday to US President Barack Obama's special Middle East envoy George Mitchell, who has been on a shuttle diplomacy mission.
Abbas was due to meet again with Mitchell yesterday and, according to Abed Rabbo, the US envoy could announce after their encounter that the indirect talks would begin.
Abbas had balked at resuming talks with Israel without the backing of the Arab League and the PLO, which ahead of the meeting in the West Bank town of Ramallah appeared split.
"We believe that American promises do not represent enough of a guarantee that the process will produce real results," said Qais Abu Laila of the Democratic Front for the Liberation of Palestine.
Hamas, the Islamist rulers of the Gaza Strip since 2007 after ejecting forces loyal to Abbas, denounced the PLO decision, with spokesman Fawzi Barhum charging the umbrella group had "lost all legitimacy".
"This decision constitutes a new encouragement for the occupier (Israel) and its settlement policies, serving only its interests and those of the Americans," Barhum said.
He accused Abbas's Palestinian Authority of having been paid "American money" to endorse the talks with Israel.
Mitchell has shuttled between Israeli and Palestinian leaders throughout the week and was told by Israeli President Shimon Peres last Friday that security must be a top issue.
The Palestinians have said they want the peace agenda to put the priority on the borders of their promised future state. But expectations of significant achievement remain low in both camps.