{{Israelis and Palestinians have resumed direct talks for the first time in three years, with the United States urging negotiators to make tough compromises to reach a peace deal.}}
Israeli chief negotiator Tzipi Livni and her Palestinian counterpart Saeb Erakat sat side-by-side opposite top US diplomat John Kerry to share a traditional Muslim iftar meal in Washington DC on Monday.
Kerry, the US secretary of state, who has staked much of his reputation on bringing both sides back to the talks, first met with the teams separately.
He will also host a three-way meeting on Tuesday, before making a statement to reporters at around 11:00am local time (15:00 GMT), accompanied by the two negotiators.
Kerry was flanked at the dinner by seasoned diplomat Martin Indyk, who he named earlier as the US special envoy to the talks, and by White House Middle East advisor Phil Gordon.
US President Barack Obama has welcomed the start of the talks, calling the, a “promising step” forward but warning of “hard choices” ahead.
“The most difficult work of these negotiations is ahead, and I am hopeful that both the Israelis and Palestinians will approach these talks in good faith,” he said.
Obama promised the US is ready to support both sides “with the goal of achieving two states, living side by side in peace and security”.
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