The White House announced that U.S. Secretary of State John Kerry would be visiting Tel Aviv and Ramallah on Wednesday, November 11, to hold separate talks with Israeli Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu and Palestinian President Mahmoud Abbas.Kerry would be talking about the “progress” of direct talks between Tel Aviv and Ramallah, and intends to hold talks with Netanyahu about the Iranian “nuclear file”.
Kerry just left the region four days ago, following separate meetings with Netanyahu in Jerusalem, and Abbas in Ramallah.
He asked both officials to allow more time for political talks, and extend them for several more months.
Kerry said that he believes “direct talks are closer than ever to reaching a settlement between Israel and the Palestinian Authority”.
Israel insists on various conditions and demands, including ruling out any withdrawal from occupied Jerusalem, borders, and wants to maintain control over natural resources.
It also is ongoing with its illegitimate settlement construction and expansion activities in the occupied West Bank, including in and around occupied East Jerusalem, and refuses to recognize the internationally guaranteed Right of Return of the Palestinian refugees.
