Palestinians and Israelis held their first indirect talks in more than a year which is expected to boost Middle East peace process. Talks were stalled after start of Gaza war December 2009. U.S. State Department spokesman Philip Crowley confirmed to reporters in Washington that the talks had started under the mediation of U.S. Middle East envoy George Mitchell.<br/> <br/>U.S. Middle East envoy George Mitchellin a statement said ‘we have begun to discuss the structure and scope of these talks and I will return to the region next week to continue our discussions'. Mitchell met with Israeli and Palestinian leaders on 7th and 8th of this month. <br/> <br/>Meanwhile U.S. Vice President Joe Biden is visiting the Middle East this week to steps up efforts to speed up Israeli-Palestinian peace process. On Tuesday he is due to meet with Israeli Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu and other Israeli leaders. <br/> <br/>He is scheduled to meet on Wednesday with the envoy of the Quartet on the Middle East, Tony Blair and will travel to the Ramallah in West Bank to meet Palestinian President Mahmoud Abbas and Prime Minister Salaam Fayyad. Biden is to travel to Amman to meet with Jordan's King Abdullah on 11th march.<br/><br/>