Israeli-Palestinian talks kick off in Jordan

Israeli and Palestinian representatives were holding talks in Jordan, state media in the kingdom said, with the "political-security" meeting aiming to restore calm after deadly violence.

The meeting, which kicked off in the Red Sea resort of Aqaba, was "the first of its kind in years between Palestinians and Israelis with regional and international participation" and would address "the situation in the Palestinian territories".

Sources with knowledge of the meeting said Palestinian intelligence chief Majed Faraj and the head of Israel's Shin Bet domestic security agency Ronen Bar were set to be in attendance.

"The political-security meeting is part of stepped up ongoing efforts by Jordan in coordination with the Palestinian Authority and other parties to end unilateral measures (by Israel) and a security breakdown that could fuel more violence," the official had said, speaking on condition of anonymity.

News of the Palestinian leadership's decision to attend the Jordan meeting drew criticism from other factions, just days after 11 Palestinians were killed in a gun battle when Israeli troops raided the occupied West Bank city of Nablus.

"The decision to take part in the Aqaba meeting despite the pain and massacres being endured by the Palestinian people comes from a desire to bring an end to the bloodshed," the ruling Fatah movement of president Mahmud Abbas had said.

Islamist group Hamas, which controls the Gaza Strip, slammed the Palestinian Authority's participation.