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Kerry Sees Progress in Effort to Revive Mideast Talks Kerry Sees Progress in Effort to Revive Mideast Talks
(35 minutes later)
JERUSALEM — Secretary of State John Kerry met for the third time in as many days with President Mahmoud Abbas of the Palestinian Authority on Sunday, after a marathon six-hour session with the Israeli leadership that ended at 3:30 a.m.JERUSALEM — Secretary of State John Kerry met for the third time in as many days with President Mahmoud Abbas of the Palestinian Authority on Sunday, after a marathon six-hour session with the Israeli leadership that ended at 3:30 a.m.
But it was unclear whether the most intense shuttle diplomacy yet of Mr. Kerry’s three-month push to revive Middle East peace talks would yield any breakthrough. “We have had very positive discussions, very important discussions, for the last three days,” Mr. Kerry said after emerging from the two-hour talk at Mr. Abbas’s headquarters in Ramallah, West Bank.But it was unclear whether the most intense shuttle diplomacy yet of Mr. Kerry’s three-month push to revive Middle East peace talks would yield any breakthrough. “We have had very positive discussions, very important discussions, for the last three days,” Mr. Kerry said after emerging from the two-hour talk at Mr. Abbas’s headquarters in Ramallah, West Bank.
“We agreed we have made real progress, but we have a few things we need to work on,” he said. “We both feel good about the direction.”“We agreed we have made real progress, but we have a few things we need to work on,” he said. “We both feel good about the direction.”
The chief Palestinian negotiator, Saeb Erekat, was quoted by Reuters as saying after the meeting, “There is some progress, but we can’t say there’s a breakthrough. The chief Palestinian negotiator, Saeb Erekat, said “It was a positive and profound meeting with President Abbas, but there has been no breakthrough so far and there is still a gap between the Palestinian and Israeli positions.”
Mr. Kerry was headed to Ben-Gurion International Airport where he was expected to brief reporters and then leave for Asia.Mr. Kerry was headed to Ben-Gurion International Airport where he was expected to brief reporters and then leave for Asia.
Earlier, Mr. Kerry held a lengthy meeting with Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu and other Israeli officials, which began with a dinner of olives, hummus, Caesar salad and sea bream, and afterward, he and some of his advisers went for a walk to a nearby park, returning to their hotel around 4 a.m.Earlier, Mr. Kerry held a lengthy meeting with Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu and other Israeli officials, which began with a dinner of olives, hummus, Caesar salad and sea bream, and afterward, he and some of his advisers went for a walk to a nearby park, returning to their hotel around 4 a.m.
Mr. Netanyahu, meanwhile, updated his cabinet on the overnight talks.Mr. Netanyahu, meanwhile, updated his cabinet on the overnight talks.
“Israel is prepared to enter negotiations without delay, without preconditions,” Mr. Netanyahu said. “There are things that we will stand on with strength in these discussions, the first of which is security. We will not compromise security and there will not be any agreement that will endanger the security of citizens of Israel.”“Israel is prepared to enter negotiations without delay, without preconditions,” Mr. Netanyahu said. “There are things that we will stand on with strength in these discussions, the first of which is security. We will not compromise security and there will not be any agreement that will endanger the security of citizens of Israel.”
Israeli and Palestinian news reports suggested that he has thus far been unable to close a deal for a four-way summit meeting this week between Mr. Netanyahu, Mr. Abbas, himself and King Abdullah II of Jordan, or to secure a commitment for renewed talks between the top Israeli and Palestinian negotiators.Israeli and Palestinian news reports suggested that he has thus far been unable to close a deal for a four-way summit meeting this week between Mr. Netanyahu, Mr. Abbas, himself and King Abdullah II of Jordan, or to secure a commitment for renewed talks between the top Israeli and Palestinian negotiators.
The sticking points are familiar: Mr. Abbas is reportedly insisting on a freeze of Jewish settlement building in the West Bank, the release of some 120 Palestinians who have been in Israeli prisons for more than 20 years and the use of the pre-1967 borders as the basis of negotiations. Ziyad Abu Ain, the Palestinians’ deputy minister for prisoner affairs, told Voice of Palestine Radio on Sunday that Mr. Abbas would only accept a full release of all those imprisoned before the 1993 signing of the Oslo peace accords.The sticking points are familiar: Mr. Abbas is reportedly insisting on a freeze of Jewish settlement building in the West Bank, the release of some 120 Palestinians who have been in Israeli prisons for more than 20 years and the use of the pre-1967 borders as the basis of negotiations. Ziyad Abu Ain, the Palestinians’ deputy minister for prisoner affairs, told Voice of Palestine Radio on Sunday that Mr. Abbas would only accept a full release of all those imprisoned before the 1993 signing of the Oslo peace accords.
Israeli newspapers reported Sunday that Mr. Netanyahu had expressed a willingness to release prisoners but only in stages, and to freeze construction, but only outside of three large blocs he says must remain part of Israel. As for the 1967 borders, there are indications that both sides might accept an American statement regarding the point, along with one about Israel being a Jewish state, rather than the parties having to say it themselves. “It appears that nothing will come of the determined Kerry’s fifth visit,” Eitan Haber, a long-time Israeli journalist, wrote in a column published in Sunday’s Yediot Aharanot. “Nor the sixth, seventh and eighth. Even if an Israeli-Palestinian meeting is held, its chances of bringing about an end to the conflict are slim to nil.”Israeli newspapers reported Sunday that Mr. Netanyahu had expressed a willingness to release prisoners but only in stages, and to freeze construction, but only outside of three large blocs he says must remain part of Israel. As for the 1967 borders, there are indications that both sides might accept an American statement regarding the point, along with one about Israel being a Jewish state, rather than the parties having to say it themselves. “It appears that nothing will come of the determined Kerry’s fifth visit,” Eitan Haber, a long-time Israeli journalist, wrote in a column published in Sunday’s Yediot Aharanot. “Nor the sixth, seventh and eighth. Even if an Israeli-Palestinian meeting is held, its chances of bringing about an end to the conflict are slim to nil.”
Even as Mr. Kerry worked around the clock, controversy continued over settlement building, with the latest flash point being a hearing scheduled for Monday regarding a new neighborhood of 930 apartments in the Har Homa area of southern Jerusalem that Israel annexed after the 1967 war. Har Homa is considered an illegal settlement under international law, and this development is particularly problematic for the Palestinians because it would separate Bethlehem, in the West Bank, from other parts of East Jerusalem.Even as Mr. Kerry worked around the clock, controversy continued over settlement building, with the latest flash point being a hearing scheduled for Monday regarding a new neighborhood of 930 apartments in the Har Homa area of southern Jerusalem that Israel annexed after the 1967 war. Har Homa is considered an illegal settlement under international law, and this development is particularly problematic for the Palestinians because it would separate Bethlehem, in the West Bank, from other parts of East Jerusalem.
Mr. Netanyahu’s government has not launched any new settlement projects during Mr. Kerry’s three-month push for peace talks, but it has allowed developments already in progress to move closer to construction, angering the Palestinians — and the Americans.Mr. Netanyahu’s government has not launched any new settlement projects during Mr. Kerry’s three-month push for peace talks, but it has allowed developments already in progress to move closer to construction, angering the Palestinians — and the Americans.
Brachie Sprung, a spokeswoman for the Jerusalem municipality, said a city hearing on the development of public spaces in the neighborhood was a routine step automatically scheduled after the apartments were approved three years ago. She noted that the city would also be approving the building of new classrooms in Arab neighborhoods at the same hearing.Brachie Sprung, a spokeswoman for the Jerusalem municipality, said a city hearing on the development of public spaces in the neighborhood was a routine step automatically scheduled after the apartments were approved three years ago. She noted that the city would also be approving the building of new classrooms in Arab neighborhoods at the same hearing.
“This is not a provocation,” Ms. Sprung said. “It has nothing to do with the Kerry visit. We don’t have Kerry’s schedule months in advance.”“This is not a provocation,” Ms. Sprung said. “It has nothing to do with the Kerry visit. We don’t have Kerry’s schedule months in advance.”
From the start, Mr. Kerry acknowledged that getting Israeli-Palestinian talks started would be a formidable undertaking. But he has resolutely insisted that it is doable — so much so that he has traveled between Jordan and Israel by motorcade, Jordanian helicopter and his own American government plane pursuing a formula that could lead to the first formal negotiations between Israeli and Palestinian leaders since 2010.From the start, Mr. Kerry acknowledged that getting Israeli-Palestinian talks started would be a formidable undertaking. But he has resolutely insisted that it is doable — so much so that he has traveled between Jordan and Israel by motorcade, Jordanian helicopter and his own American government plane pursuing a formula that could lead to the first formal negotiations between Israeli and Palestinian leaders since 2010.
Mr. Kerry’s trip had appeared to take a dramatic turn on Saturday when he ripped up his itinerary and canceled a news conference and a trip that day to the United Arab Emirates so he could continue his meetings with Israeli and Palestinian leaders for another day.Mr. Kerry’s trip had appeared to take a dramatic turn on Saturday when he ripped up his itinerary and canceled a news conference and a trip that day to the United Arab Emirates so he could continue his meetings with Israeli and Palestinian leaders for another day.
That spurred speculation in the Israeli news media that a summit meeting among Israeli, Palestinian and American officials might be hosted by Jordan.That spurred speculation in the Israeli news media that a summit meeting among Israeli, Palestinian and American officials might be hosted by Jordan.
At the start of Mr. Kerry’s dinner meeting here on Saturday with Mr. Netanyahu, there were indications that the principals thought speculation of a game-changing breakthrough had gotten out of hand.At the start of Mr. Kerry’s dinner meeting here on Saturday with Mr. Netanyahu, there were indications that the principals thought speculation of a game-changing breakthrough had gotten out of hand.
“They’re saying a four-way summit?” Mr. Netanyahu was heard to say to Mr. Kerry at the start of the dinner. “Did you hear that?”“They’re saying a four-way summit?” Mr. Netanyahu was heard to say to Mr. Kerry at the start of the dinner. “Did you hear that?”
“I did,” Mr. Kerry replied.“I did,” Mr. Kerry replied.
The dinner — Mr. Kerry’s third meeting with Mr. Netanyahu in three days — was all business. On the Israeli side, it also included Tzipi Livni, Israel’s minister of justice and the government’s chief negotiator on the Palestinian issue; Isaac Molho, Mr. Netanyahu’s special envoy; Yaakov Amidror, Mr. Netanyahu’s national security adviser; and Maj. Gen. Eyal Zamir, Mr. Netanyahu’s military secretary.The dinner — Mr. Kerry’s third meeting with Mr. Netanyahu in three days — was all business. On the Israeli side, it also included Tzipi Livni, Israel’s minister of justice and the government’s chief negotiator on the Palestinian issue; Isaac Molho, Mr. Netanyahu’s special envoy; Yaakov Amidror, Mr. Netanyahu’s national security adviser; and Maj. Gen. Eyal Zamir, Mr. Netanyahu’s military secretary.
On the American side, Mr. Kerry was joined by Frank Lowenstein, his Middle East adviser; Jonathan Schwartz, a State Department legal expert; and John Bass, a senior aide to Mr. Kerry at the State Department.On the American side, Mr. Kerry was joined by Frank Lowenstein, his Middle East adviser; Jonathan Schwartz, a State Department legal expert; and John Bass, a senior aide to Mr. Kerry at the State Department.
But skeptics were insisting there was little reason to anticipate a breakthrough. Gilad Erdan, an Israeli government minister and member of the Likud Party, asserted on Israeli television just before Mr. Kerry’s meeting with Mr. Netanyahu that the two sides were not close to resuming negotiations.But skeptics were insisting there was little reason to anticipate a breakthrough. Gilad Erdan, an Israeli government minister and member of the Likud Party, asserted on Israeli television just before Mr. Kerry’s meeting with Mr. Netanyahu that the two sides were not close to resuming negotiations.
Mr. Abbas, Mr. Erdan said, “is still demanding the same preconditions that we have no intention of complying with.”Mr. Abbas, Mr. Erdan said, “is still demanding the same preconditions that we have no intention of complying with.”
Mr. Kerry said early during his travels that significant headway toward resuming the peace talks needed to be made long before September, when the General Assembly resumes its debate on the Middle East.Mr. Kerry said early during his travels that significant headway toward resuming the peace talks needed to be made long before September, when the General Assembly resumes its debate on the Middle East.
Mr. Kerry has frequently said that time is the enemy, arguing that attitudes could harden and that unexpected developments could complicate painstaking efforts to lay the basis for progress at the negotiating table.Mr. Kerry has frequently said that time is the enemy, arguing that attitudes could harden and that unexpected developments could complicate painstaking efforts to lay the basis for progress at the negotiating table.
Even before Mr. Kerry left on this trip to the Middle East, his fifth, American officials were signaling that he was prepared to make a sixth if needed.Even before Mr. Kerry left on this trip to the Middle East, his fifth, American officials were signaling that he was prepared to make a sixth if needed.
On Saturday, Mr. Kerry had little to say as he went from meeting to meeting. Asked if he was making any progress as his Amman meeting with Mr. Abbas got under way, Mr. Kerry replied, “Working hard.”On Saturday, Mr. Kerry had little to say as he went from meeting to meeting. Asked if he was making any progress as his Amman meeting with Mr. Abbas got under way, Mr. Kerry replied, “Working hard.”