Description

RAMALLAH (Ma'an) -- Palestinian Authority police released five people late Sunday who had been arrested at a Ramallah protest earlier in the day.

Ali Amer Hamdullah, Fayeq Meri, Yousef Farouq Hamdullah, Tamer Arar, and Iyan Ayaydeh were all arrested on Sunday as hundreds of people marched in Ramallah to protest the PA's decision to return to negotiations with Israel.

All of the men are affiliates of the Popular Front for the Liberation of Palestine.

Four PA police officers and three protesters were injured when both sides clashed during the march, which was organized by the PFLP, a Ma'an reporter said.

Addameer prisoners group said dozens of protesters were injured by police, adding that PA forces were arresting injured demonstrators at public hospitals.

Palestinian Legislative Council member Khalida Jarrar was assaulted by a policeman during the clashes, witnesses said.

After months of dogged diplomacy, Kerry earlier this month, on his sixth trip to the region, wrested from both sides an accord setting out "the basis for resuming direct final status negotiations," State Department spokeswoman Jen Psaki said in a statement Sunday.

Israeli Justice Minister and chief negotiator Tzipi Livni, as well as legal aide Yitzhak Molcho, will first meet late Monday with Palestinian chief negotiator Saeb Erekat and senior official Mohammad Shtayyeh for an Iftar dinner hosted by Kerry to break the fast observed during the Muslim holy month of Ramadan.

"Initial meetings are planned for the evening of Monday July 29 and Tuesday July 30, 2013," Psaki said in her statement.