The decision is likely to break the months-long deadlock over resuming Middle East peace talks.

The United States has proposed indirect negotiations - with American officials mediating - to end the impasse over the conditions for resuming negotiations.

Israeli-Palestinian peace talks broke down more than a year ago when Israel launched its offensive against the Gaza Strip's Hamas rulers.

Israeli prime minister Benjamin Netanyahu welcomed the decision to support US-brokered talks.

"It seems that the conditions are ripening for the renewal of negotiations between us and the Palestinians," he said.

"In the Middle East you need two to tango, but it could be that we need three to tango and we might need to leapfrog at first but the obstacle isn't - and never was - Israel.

"The Arab approval gives Palestinian president Mahmoud Abbas the political cover he needs to accept the offer."

Abbas has staunchly rejected direct talks unless Israel calls a complete halt to construction of Jewish settlements in the West Bank and east Jerusalem - and he had been wary of entering even indirect talks without Arab backing.

The gathering of 14 Arab League foreign ministers in Cairo agreed.

"Despite the lack of conviction in the seriousness of the Israeli side, the committee sees that it would give the indirect talks the chance as a last attempt and to facilitate the US role," said Arab League secretary-general Amr Moussa.

He added that Arab foreign ministers backed the talks on the condition that they lasted for four months.

"This should not be an open-ended process," he said.

The ministers also said the indirect negotiations should not turn into direct Israeli-Palestinian talks without a total freeze on settlement construction.

Netanyahu instituted a 10-month halt on new construction in the West Bank in November, but the measure does not include building that was already started or construction in east Jerusalem - the sector of the city Palestinians claim as the capital of a future state.

Moussa warned that if indirect talks fail to yield results, the Arabs will call for an emergency Security Council meeting to address the Arab-Israeli conflict and would ask Washington not to use its veto.

Abbas has been eager to secure US guarantees that Israel will be committed to the outcome of the talks before agreeing to negotiations, but now says he will adhere to the Arab foreign ministers' decision.