Kerry’s peace push
US Secretary of State John Kerry made a two-day visit to Jerusalem this week, spreading an optimistic message about the chances of peace between Israel and the Palestinians.
Kerry declared himself “convinced there is a road forward”. He said: “I would say to everyone that I have no illusions about the difficulties, we’ve seen them. But you have to believe in the possibilities to be able to get there.”
After a meeting with Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu, he announced: “I think it’s fair to say that we made progress, that we were pleased with the substance of the discussion and agreed, each of us, to do some homework.”
Despite his enthusiasm, Kerry declined to discuss publicly his strategy. Both the Israeli government and Palestinian Authority appeared to make moves to build each other’s confidence after Obama’s recent visit and ahead of the Kerry visit.
Unconfirmed reports suggested that the PA has agreed to suspend unilateral moves at the United Nations for around two months to provide a window for getting the peace process back on track.
Shortly after Obama returned home Israel agreed to stop withholding tax revenues from the Palestinian Authority in punishment for its unilateral statehood bid at the United Nations in November.
Kerry met Israeli President Shimon Peres and his Palestinian counterpart Mahmoud Abbas, as well as Netanyahu and his Palestinian counterpart Salam Fayyad.
His meetings with the Palestinian side focused on the peace process, on the need to develop the Palestinian economy to make any peace agreement viable, and on the PA’s desire to see Israeli-held Palestinian prisoners freed.
His meetings with Israelis focused on the peace process, on the new government in Jerusalem, and on regional threats, including Iran. He sought to reiterate the promise that Obama made during his trip, that America has Israel’s back when it comes to Iran. “We understand the threat of Iran, and as the President has said many times, he doesn’t bluff,” Kerry said.
NATHAN JEFFAY
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