According to the official reports, President Shimon Peres told U. S. Envoy George Mitchell on Friday that Israeli security from attack must be central to the upcoming indirect talks.

Haaretz has reported that Peres said Israel remains committed to the goal of a sovereign Palestinian state. But he said security is at the top of his country's agenda because of rocket fire from Gaza.

It was further reported that Mitchell arrived in the region this week to broker indirect talks between Israel and the Palestinian Authority. They are the first negotiations in a year and a half, a period that included Israel's invasion of Gaza in late 2008.

Mitchell, after his meeting with Peres, went on to meet Foreign Minister Avigdor Lieberman and was then to travel to Ramallah for discussions with Palestinian Authority President Mahmoud Abbas.

The executive council of the Palestinian Liberation Organization is scheduled to meet Saturday to decide on conditions for the indirect talks, an Abbas spokesman told the Maan news agency Thursday. (With Inputs from Agencies)