BICOM

US Secretary of State John Kerry remained positive over prospects of a peace agreement between Israel and the Palestinian Authority (PA), despite concerns expressed by Israel’s Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu over the PA’s commitment towards reaching such an accord.

Netanyahu and Kerry met yesterday in Jerusalem following reports of high tension between Israeli and PA negotiators during this week’s round of peace talks. Few details of the sixteen meetings which have taken place since July have been publicised, although according to recent media reports sharp disagreement persists over key issues such as borders.

Tensions peaked in the last few days after Israel announced plans to advance new construction in Jewish neighbourhoods of East Jerusalem and in various West Bank settlements. The announcement came in parallel with the release of a second batch of convicted Palestinian terrorists. The agreement to release the convicted men was part of the arrangement which paved the way for renewed talks in August. Israeli officials have claimed the Palestinians knew in advance there would be further settlement construction, something denied by the Palestinian side. For its part, Israel has complained to the US about Palestinian leaking of the content of talks.

Netanyahu told Kerry, “I want peace with the Palestinians; Israel wants peace with the Palestinians,” but that “I’m concerned… because I see the Palestinians continuing with incitement, continuing to create artificial crises, continuing to avoid, run away from the historic decisions that are needed to make a genuine peace.” Netanyahu expressed the hope that Kerry’s visit “will help steer them back to a place where we could achieve the historical peace that we seek.”

Speaking later in the day following a meeting with PA President Mahmoud Abbas in Bethlehem, Kerry remained upbeat saying “As in any negotiation there will be moments of up and moments of down, and it goes back and forth.” Kerry said that he and President Obama “are determined, and neither of us will stop in our efforts to pursue the possibility [of peace].” Kerry concluded hopefully, “We have six months ahead of us on the timetable we have set for ourselves and I am confident we have the ability to make progress.”

Yesterday Kerry also met Israel’s President Shimon Peres, who applauded Kerry’s “unmatched energy and devotion” to resolving “such a complicated situation.” Kerry reiterated his conviction that “This is not a mission impossible. It [peace] can happen.”