Israel to Resume Talks After Rites for 2 Slain Men

Israel, which suspended peace talks with the Palestinians after two Israelis were killed in the West Bank, has decided to resume the marathon negotiations this afternoon.

The talks in the Egyptian resort of Taba will resume after the funeral today of the two Israelis, who are to be laid to rest in Haifa, according to a government statement released late Wednesday. The statement said talks will “continue for a few days” as Israel’s Feb. 6 prime ministerial election approaches.

The negotiations were suspended after Israelis Motti Dayan and Etgar Zeituni were abducted and shot by masked gunmen Tuesday. The two had been in the West Bank town of Tulkarm looking for supplies for their Tel Aviv sushi restaurant.

In the past, such killings have led to longer breakdowns in talks, but Israeli caretaker Premier Ehud Barak is pressed for time because of the election. Trailing in the polls, he had hoped that the talks would produce a breakthrough and energize his listless reelection campaign.

Before the talks were halted, the sides had been poring over maps outlining their positions on the borders of a future Palestinian state and control over parts of Jerusalem.

Israeli Deputy Defense Minister Ephraim Sneh said prospects for a final deal remain slim.

“The easy chapters are behind us. We now have to deal with the sticking points,” Sneh said.