This article is from the source 'washpo' and was first published or seen on . It last changed over 40 days ago and won't be checked again for changes.
You can find the current article at its original source at http://www.washingtonpost.com/world/kerry-detours-to-middle-east-to-try-to-rescue-peace-talks/2014/03/31/b119a5e8-b8c7-11e3-96ae-f2c36d2b1245_story.html?wprss=rss_world
The article has changed 9 times. There is an RSS feed of changes available.
| Version 0 | Version 1 |
|---|---|
| Kerry detours to Middle East to try to rescue peace talks | Kerry detours to Middle East to try to rescue peace talks |
| (about 3 hours later) | |
| PARIS — Secretary of State John F. Kerry is making an emergency visit to the Mideast on Monday to try to keep U.S.-backed peace talks from collapse. | |
| Kerry was expected to see Israeli Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu, and Palestinian officials said Kerry would travel to their West Bank headquarters on Monday evening. | Kerry was expected to see Israeli Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu, and Palestinian officials said Kerry would travel to their West Bank headquarters on Monday evening. |
| “Secretary Kerry decided it would be productive to return to the region,” spokeswoman Jen Psaki said. | “Secretary Kerry decided it would be productive to return to the region,” spokeswoman Jen Psaki said. |
| It was clear that talks Kerry launched with difficulty eight months ago are in crisis. | It was clear that talks Kerry launched with difficulty eight months ago are in crisis. |
| “Israelis and Palestinians have both made tough choices, and as we work with them to determine the next steps, it is important they remember that only peace will bring the Israeli and Palestinian people both the security and economic prosperity they all deserve,” Psaki said. | |
| Netanyahu has refused to carry out an overdue release of some two dozen Palestinian prisoners, and Palestinian Authority President Mahmoud Abbas has threatened to walk out with a month to go before Kerry’s deadline for an outline of a peace deal. | Netanyahu has refused to carry out an overdue release of some two dozen Palestinian prisoners, and Palestinian Authority President Mahmoud Abbas has threatened to walk out with a month to go before Kerry’s deadline for an outline of a peace deal. |
| Netanyahu told his Likud party Sunday that he will not allow the release unless Palestinians agree to extend talks and warned he would refuse to do it at all unless assured the release would be in Israel’s interest. | |
| Kerry was in Paris for talks with Russian Foreign Minister Sergei Lavrov over the crisis in Ukraine. |