The negotiations, stalled, since 2010, began in Washington, yesterday July 29, 2013.

Israeli and Palestinian negotiators yesterday, July 29, 2013 resumed peace talks in Washington, USA following months of shuttle diplomacy by U.S. Secretary of State, John Kerry, BBC reported.

The Israeli delegation is led by Justice Minister Tzipi Livni, while Chief Negotiator Saeb Erekat is representing the Palestinian side. The announcement of the resumption on Sunday, July 28, came hours after Israel approved the release of more than 100 Palestinian prisoners. The release - which split the Israeli cabinet - is to take place in stages over several months.

According to U.S. State Department spokeswoman, Jen Psaki, the initial talks began yesterday evening and are to continue today, Tuesday, July 30, 2013. Psaki said the talks would serve as an opportunity to develop a procedural work plan for how the parties can proceed with the negotiations in the coming months. The Associated Press news agency quoted both sides as emphasising - as the talks went underway - that many obstacles still stood between them and a final deal on setting up a Palestinian State alongside Israel.

Livni warned before leaving for Washington that the discussions will be complex, but promised to approach them cautiously and with hope. Hanan Ashrawi, a Palestinian spokeswoman, said the negotiations were holding under more difficult conditions than previous talks. She warned that if the two sides did not move fast and decisively to seek a permanent settlement, things could fall apart.

Major sticking points in the Middle East peace process include the future of Israeli settlements in the Palestinian territory of West Bank, the status of Jerusalem and the fate of Palestinian refugees. The issue of settlement-building halted the last direct talks in September 2010.