BICOM

US Secretary of State John Kerry appeared yesterday in front of US lawmakers for the first time since taking office and emphasised the urgency for Israeli and Palestinian leaders to reach an agreement on the two-state solution.

Kerry was speaking in front of the US House of Representatives Foreign Affairs Committee to outline the US State Department budget. Providing an overview of his department’s priorities, Kerry highlighted his recent efforts to kick-start talks between Israeli and Palestinian leaders and expressed optimism, saying “In my meetings on both sides I have found a seriousness of purpose; a commitment to explore how we actually get to a negotiation.” Kerry has already visited Israel and Palestinian areas three times since he assumed office in February. During his most recent trip, he announced that a new economic initiative, agreed by all sides, will be introduced in Palestinian areas of the West Bank as an initial confidence building measure.

However, Kerry also warned yesterday that there is an immediate need to conclude an agreement between the two sides. He said, “I believe the window for a two-state solution is shutting… I think we have some period of time, a year, a year-and-a-half, or two years or it’s over.” Kerry expressed determination to broker an agreement, saying “I intend, on behalf of the president’s instructions, to honour that urgency and see what we can do to move forward.”

Describing some of the difficulties ahead, Kerry commented that there is mistrust on both sides. He said that Palestinian Authority President Mahmoud Abbas “is not convinced” that Israel will facilitate the establishment of a Palestinian state “And on the other side, Israel is not convinced that the Palestinians and others are ever going to give them the security that they need.”