Secretary of State John Kerry stands with Israel＇s Justice Minister and chief negotiator Tzipi Livni, right, and Palestinian chief negotiator Saeb Erekat, after they made statements on the resumption of Israeli-Palestinian peace talks, July 30, 2013.
U.S. Secretary of State John Kerry said Tuesday that Israeli and Palestinian negotiators have agreed to meet again within the next two weeks and that he is aiming to help seal a final peace deal within nine months.
Kerry, speaking alongside Israeli Justice Minister Tzipi Livni and lead Palestinian negotiator Saeb Erakat, said this week＇s discussions were "positive and constructive" and he was convinced the two sides could make peace.
After a morning of talks at the White House with U.S. President Barack Obama and at the State Department, Kerry said the two sides had agreed that all the most contentious issues - such as borders, refugees and the fate of Jerusalem - would be on the table for discussion.
Livni said she had traveled to Washington "from a troubled and changing region" and that the Israeli government "owed it to the Israeli people to do everything we can for their security." She said it is "not our intention to argue about the past, but to make decisions about the future."
Erakat said he is "delighted that all final status issues are on the table" and that it is "time for Palestinians to live in dignity in their own, free, sovereign state."
The two days of negotiations in Washington were the first direct peace talks in nearly three years.
Kerry hosted the two sides for dinner Monday night, after urging them to make "reasonable compromises" in the negotiations.
Kerry said the issues at stake are tough, complicated, emotional and symbolic, but that the consequences of not trying to negotiate could be worse.
Former U.S. Ambassador to Israel Martin Indyk will be the main American envoy helping guide the talks. He said Monday he will do his best to achieve President Obama＇s vision of two states living side by side in peace and security.
State Department spokeswoman Jen Psaki said earlier that the nine-month time frame for direct negotiations is not a deadline and that the talks will not automatically stop after that period.
Israeli Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu agreed to free 104 Palestinian prisoners as a condition to restart the talks. Israeli media say the prisoners include Palestinians convicted of deadly attacks against Israeli civilians and security forces.
Ultranationalist Israeli Cabinet ministers say freeing the prisoners would be a reward for terrorism. But Mr. Netanyahu told his ministers the decision was difficult for him and the families of those killed, but necessary to renew the peace process. |
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