Palestinians keeping to late January deadline for Israel talks

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Palestinians keeping to late January deadline for Israel talks

The Associated Press Published Friday, January 13, 2012 6:11AM EST

Palestinian President Mahmoud Abbas waves to the crowd gathered for the opening of a research center in the West Bank city of Ramallah, Tuesday , Jan. 3, 2012.(AP Photo/Nasser Shiyoukhi)

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JERUSALEM - A Palestinian official says negotiators are sticking to an end of January deadline in talks with Israel, despite U.S. calls for flexibility.

Palestinian and Israeli negotiators met last week for the first time in more than a year.

Nabil Abu Rdeneh, an aide to Palestinian President Mahmoud Abbas, said Friday Palestinians will consider halting the talks if no progress is reached by Jan. 26.

That date was set in October by the "Quartet" of Mideast peace mediators, calling for proposals from each side on main issues.

The State Department said Thursday it did not want the deadline to be a "straitjacket." Israeli officials say the three-month period began only with the first meeting of the negotiators Jan. 3 in Amman, Jordan.

The talks are set to resume Saturday in Jordan.