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Peace talks resume
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AMID continued violence and the kickoff of Israel's election campaign for prime minister, Israeli and Palestinian officials began a new round of peace talks yesterday.
A Palestinian official said the talks had begun and were being attended by top negotiators. He would not disclose the venue of the talks.
The Israelis had cancelled peace talks on Monday due to the death of a Jewish settler in the Gaza Strip, allegedly murdered by Palestinians, and reimposed tight controls on the territory.
The death sparked a rampage against Palestinian property by some 100 settlers, two of whom were arrested, and top Palestinian negotiator Saeb Erakat said this would be on the agenda of yesterday's talks.
Israeli army radio also said settlers had been authorized for the first time to carry out armed patrols under police supervision around Hebron in the West Bank.
According to Israeli public radio and Palestinian officials, the Israeli side at the talks would be represented by Foreign Minister Shlomo Ben Ami, security cabinet member Amnon Lipkin-Shahak and Prime Minister Ehud Barak's senior adviser Gilad Sher.
On the Palestinian side, Erakat, Palestinian parliament chief Ahmed Qorei, information minister Yasser Abed Rabbo and Gaza Strip security chief Mohammed Dahlan would attend.
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