Netanyahu and Abbas in direct talks

Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu and Palestinian President Mahmoud Abbas met in private Thursday, as part of the newly, Washington launched direct peace talks between Israel and the Palestinian Authority. The two reportedly agreed to meet once every two weeks, with the first meeting set to take place at Sharm el-Sheik. Both US Secretary of State Hillary Clinton and Special US envoy to the Middle East George Mitchell are expected to attend the first meeting. Following the meeting Mitchell told reporters that the Netanyahu-Abbas meeting took place in Clinton's office. The two, he said, discussed various issues, and both agreed that for the negotiations to work, it is best if things are kept under wraps.