The United States has welcomed Israel's apparent acceptance of a plan by the so-called Middle East Quartet to return to talks with the Palestinians, saying it was the best chance for peace.
Israel called Sunday for an immediate return to peace talks under the framework of a proposal by the Quartet -- the United States, the European Union, the United Nations and Russia.
But the Jewish state said the plan included no preconditions -- an interpretation the Palestinians quickly rejected.
"We welcome the Israeli government's announcement today expressing readiness to resume negotiations with the Palestinians, as called for by the Quartet," US State Department spokeswoman Victoria Nuland said in a statement.
"The Palestinians expressed support for the Quartet approach on September 29," she added.
"The US once again calls on both parties to resume negotiations without preconditions, on the timetable proposed by the Quartet, as the best means to advance their interests, resolve their differences, and fulfill the president's two-state vision."
The Palestinians said earlier that Israel could not say it had accepted the Quartet statement without announcing a halt to Israeli settlement construction and a willingness to use the lines that existed before the 1967 Six Day War as a basis for negotiations on future borders.
