JERUSALEM: US Secretary of State John Kerry shuttled between Jerusalem and Amman yesterday as he tried to revive moribund Middle East peace negotiations, holding lengthy separate meetings with Israeli and Palestinian leaders.
Kerry, who is trying to break a protracted deadlock, met Israel’s Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu in Jerusalem before and after a visit to Amman for lunch with Palestinian president Mahmud Abbas.
A State Department official told AFP that Kerry’s two-and-a-half hour meeting with Abbas was “very constructive... (and) focused on the importance of moving the peace process forward”.
Kerry then flew by helicopter back to Jerusalem — where he earlier had what he described as “good long” talks with Netanyahu that ended at 1.30am (2230 GMT Thursday) — before beginning an afternoon meeting with him in a hotel.
At the start of that three-hour session, their second in less than 24 hours, the two men shook hands and Kerry joked “so soon”.
He then met Shimon Peres at his residence in Jerusalem for talks and stayed for sabbath-eve dinner.
Welcoming his guest the nearly 90-year-old Israeli president praised his efforts in seeking to prepare the ground for peace talks. “All of us admire your investment in creating really the right environment,” said Peres.
“It is difficult, there are many problems. But as far as I’m concerned I can see how (among) people, there is a clear majority for the peace process, a two-state solution, and a great expectation that you will do it and that you can do it.” US officials gave away little about Kerry’s talks with Netanyahu.
At the Thursday night parley Kerry “reiterated his strong and sustained commitment to working with all parties to achieve two states, living side by side with peace and security,” a US official said on condition of anonymity, calling the talks “productive”.
US officials have played down hopes of a breakthrough, but Kerry has said he wants progress before the UN General Assembly in September, when Abbas could rally international opinion against Israel if he sees no movement.
The immediate task is not a settlement to one of the world’s most intractable disputes but the more modest goal of resuming direct talks between Israel and the Palestinians after a gap of nearly three years.
After the quick failure of the last round, the Palestinians want guarantees Israel will freeze construction of settlements on occupied land and commit to the principle of a peace deal based on the borders before the 1967 Middle East war. Israel has retorted it is ready to negotiate but will not accept “preconditions”.
AFP
