U.S. Secretary of State John Kerry, Israeli Justice Minister Tzipi Livni, and Palestinian Chief Negotiator Saeb Erekat address reporters on the Israeli-Palestinian conflict negotiations at the U.S. Department of State. Photo: State Department.

Israel Hayom – The next round of talks between the Israeli and Palestinian negotiating teams is set to take place on Wednesday, Aug. 14, in Jerusalem. The teams are expected to meet again the following week in Jericho. U.S. special envoy for the peace process Martin Indyk is expected to land in Israel Friday to prepare for the talks, Israel Radio reported.

Saeb Erekat, the Palestinian Authority’s chief negotiator, told Israel Hayom on Thursday that Israel would conduct the first stage of the Palestinian prisoner release on Tuesday, a day ahead of the meeting in Jerusalem. According to Erekat, Israel will release 26 Palestinian prisoners then, in the first of a four-stage release of 104 Palestinian prisoners agreed ahead of the renewal of negotiations with the Palestinians. Israel has not officially confirmed Tuesday as the date for the first stage of the release, but senior Israeli diplomatic officials did not refute the date or the number of prisoners to be released.

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