Israeli Deputy Defense Minister, Danni Dannon, stated Sunday that American Secretary of State John Kerry intends to travel to the region Monday for new rounds of talks with Israeli and Palestinian officials.Dannon said that Kerry intends to present a draft document to Israeli and Palestinian officials as part of “his efforts to advance peace talks in the Middle East.’
On Saturday evening, a Jordanian official told a radio in the country that Kerry is attempting to coordinate a meeting between Israel’s Prime Minister, Benjamin Netanyahu, and Palestinian President, Mahmoud Abbas.
Dannon recently reiterated Israel’s stance rejecting an Israeli withdrawal from all Palestinian territories occupied by Israel since 1967, including occupied East Jerusalem.
He said that the Likud Party of Benjamin Netanyahu “will correct Netanyahu if he tries to shift towards such a solution”.
“If Netanyahu leans left, the Likud will not allow that”, Dannon added.
Kerry’s new tour in the region comes following an Arab tour conducted by Palestinian President Mahmoud Abbas to inform Arab leaders of “developments in direct talks” with Tel Aviv.
Abbas visited Cairo and attended a meeting of Arab Foreign Ministers at the Arab League, and visited Morocco, where he attended a meeting for the “Jerusalem Committee”.
Direct Israeli-Palestinian political dialogue, mediated by the Unites States, has been hitting various obstacles, topped by Israel’s ongoing invasions, assaults, demolition of Palestinian homes and property, and Israel’s ongoing illegitimate settlement activities.
Tel Aviv also refuses to recognize the Right of Return of the Palestinian Refugees, refuses to hold talks on borders, Jerusalem, and insists on keeping its settlement blocks and several settlements in the occupied West Bank, including in and around occupied East Jerusalem.
Israel also wants to maintain control over the Jordan Valley, vital areas and natural resources in the occupied territories.
