Kerry upbeat on latest Middle East peace push
JERUSALEM — U. S. Secretary of State John F. Kerry, concluding his latest effort to advance Israeli- Palestinian peace talks Friday, sounded encouraged about progress despite ongoing tension between the parties.
“We are closer than we have been in years” to bringing peace to the region, Kerry told reporters Friday morning before departing Israel for Washington after two days of talks.
Since arriving in Israel on Wednesday night, Kerry had met with Israeli Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu three times and once with Palestinian Authority President Mahmoud Abbas.
Kerry said he was encouraged by the “continued commitment of both leaders,” and advised observers to be patient. “The fact that there is no information doesn’t mean the talks are not productive,” he said, reminding that the parties agreed to refrain from publicly discussing the negotiations.
Despite their sharp disagreements, Kerry said, both leaders have the “same endpoint in their sights: two nations for two peoples, living side by side in peace and prosperity.”
However, “neither peace nor prosperity are possible without security” Kerry said, touching the key focus of the talks.
Leaks from the negotiations that resumed in July suggest the process has become deadlocked, with Israel insisting that security arrangements in the West Bank — in the Jordan Valley in particular — be finalized before discussions can begin on a future border outline. Israel contends that maintaining a physical military presence along the Jordan Valley is critical for securing its eastern border, controlling future border crossings and defending its airspace. The Palestinians reject this as a ploy to perpetuate the occupation.
In an effort to break the cycle, the U.S. has offered a package of security proposals, presented to Netanyahu by retired U. S. Marine Gen. John Allen, special envoy for related security matters.