BICOM

US Secretary of State John Kerry paid a brief visit to Jerusalem yesterday, meeting with Israel’s Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu. Amid discussion over the US-Russia plan for Syria’s chemical disarmament, Netanyahu and Kerry also addressed the current peace talks between Israel and the Palestinian Authority (PA).

It is thought that several rounds of talks between the two sides have taken place during the last month. Kerry added yesterday that he had held a “very productive meeting” with PA President Mahmoud Abbas in London last week. However, Kerry emphasised that “all of the parties” had agreed not to talk publicly about the content of peace talks, explaining that “the best way to work through the difficult choices that have to be made is to do so privately.” A strict media blackout is in place to guard against potential leaks which could hamper the negotiations. However, Israel complained last week to the United States over leaked reports in the Arab media which claimed that the PA is unhappy over Israeli suggestions.

Kerry did say yesterday during a ten-minute statement that although “The road ahead is not easy” that “it is clearer than ever” that “it is a road worth travelling.” Meanwhile, Netanyahu emphasised Israel’s commitment to the talks, saying that “we have embarked on this effort with you [Kerry] in order to succeed, to bring about a historic reconciliation between Israelis and Palestinians that ends the conflict once and for all.”

The Jerusalem Post reports that Israeli and US officials met yesterday to discuss the peace talks at the same time as Netanyahu and Kerry. Apparently, they included Justice Minister Tzipi Livni, Netanyahu’s special envoy Yitchak Molcho, Israel’s ambassador-designate to the US Ron Dermer, US Ambassador to Israel Dan Shapiro, US special envoy to the talks Martin Indyk and US State Department officials.