US Secretary of State John Kerry has announced that a “very positive meeting” was held between Israeli and Palestinian leaders in Washington today.

Mr Kerry told reporters that while the details of the negotiations remain confidential, the two sides plan to meet again in a matter of weeks to discuss the “core issues”. Mr Kerry emphasised that “the time has come for a lasting peace.”

The meeting today brought together Israeli Justice Minister Tzipi Livni, Israeli Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu’s envoy Yitzchak Molcho and two Palestinian negotiators, Saeb Erekat and Mohammad Shtayyeh.

Ms Livni thanked US President Barack Obama and Palestinian President Mahmoud Abbas saying, "a new opportunity has been created for us."

“History is not made by cynics, it is made by realists who are not afraid," she said.