Zionist and Palestinian negotiators were set to meet Wednesday evening in a Jerusalem hotel for a new round of direct peace talks, the first in three years.

Zionist and Palestinian negotiators were set to meet Wednesday evening in a Jerusalem hotel for a new round of direct peace talks, the first in three years.

Palestinian officials told media outlets that negotiators would meet at 8:00 pm (1700 GMT) in the prestigious King David hotel, although there was no Israeli confirmation.

The meeting is overshadowed by the Zionist plans to build thousands of new homes on land the Palestinians claim for their future state and by open pessimism on both sides.

The last round of direct peace talks broke down just weeks after they were launched in September 2010 in a bitter row over settlements.

So far, both sides have remained silent over the agenda for the negotiations. The two sides have committed themselves to give the talks at least nine months in which to reach an accord.