BICOM

US Secretary of State John Kerry reported meaningful steps towards re-starting peace negotiations following three days of intense talks with Israel’s Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu and Palestinian Authority (PA) President Mahmoud Abbas.

Speaking at Ben Gurion Airport prior to his departure, Kerry said “I’m pleased to tell you that we have made real progress on this trip. And I believe that with a little more work, the start of final status negotiations could be within reach.”

Kerry met three times with both Netanyahu and Abbas and although he conceded that a breakthrough to an agreement for talks had yet to be achieved, Kerry commented “I know progress when I see it, and we are making progress.” He said that both leaders asked him to return soon and that he would leave a small team in the region to make further progress in finding a formula to resume talks. The team is thought to include Kerry’s senior Middle East advisor Frank Lowenstein.

Haaretz reports that Kerry presented Abbas with a list of gestures that Israel is prepared to make both before and during the resumption of talks, plus an outline of principles for renewing negotiations. Apparently, the PA is yet to respond. Chief Palestinian negotiation Saeb Erekat said that although there had been some progress, “we can’t say there’s been a breakthrough.”

Netanyahu reiterated to his cabinet yesterday that “Israel is ready to enter into peace negotiations, without further delays or pre-conditions.” Israel’s Prime Minister has repeatedly urged the PA to talk without provisos, but Abbas has insisted that Israel must first freeze all settlement construction, agree to 1967 borders plus swaps and release pre-Oslo prisoners.  Netanyahu added that he would not compromise on Israel’s security and opened the door to a referendum on a peace deal saying “that the people must decide on any agreement we reach.”