Occupied Jerusalem: US ambassador George Mitchell resumed his push for direct Middle East peace talks on Tuesday with signs coming from Palestinian leaders that they might bow to pressure and agree to meet the Israelis face-to-face.
Arriving at the Ramallah compound of Palestinian President Mahmoud Abbas, the normally stern 76-year-old envoy, who has repeatedly heard "no" from both sides, paused for the television cameras and waved, wearing a broad smile.
Mitchell was due to meet Israeli Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu later in the day and address questions from both leaders before returning home on Wednesday.
The stalled peace process resumed in May after an 18-month hiatus, but only at the level of indirect "proximity talks", in which Mitchell acts as a shuttling, third-party diplomat.
US President Barack Obama has said he wants direct talks to resume by September before a partial moratorium on Israeli settlement construction in the occupied West Bank is set to expire, with possibly dire consequences for the process.
Abbas hinted on Monday that he might soon bow to international pressure, end the impasse and resume direct negotiations for the first time in almost two years.
Netanyahu has said he is ready to begin immediately.
"Until now, we did not agree," Abbas said. "We may face other pressures that we cannot endure. If that happens, I will study this thing with the leadership ... and take the appropriate decision," he told reporters at his office.
