Kerry Meets Abbas in London

Local Editor

US Secretary of State John Kerry worked Wednesday to keep the Palestinians committed to his hope of restarting Mideast talks.

Kerry met with Palestinian Authority chief Mahmoud Abbas in a London hotel for the first time since the negotiations collapsed last month.

Kerry, who is in London for talks with international partners about the Syrian war and political unrest in Ukraine, said he planned to have an informal meeting with Abbas and that he did not plan to offer any proposals.

State Department spokeswoman Jen Psaki said that during the two-hour meeting, Kerry reiterated US support for the Palestinian people.
"Secretary Kerry made clear that while the door remains open to "peace", it is up to the parties to determine whether they are willing to take the steps necessary to resume negotiations," she said "He again urged both sides to refrain from unhelpful steps."

The talks fell apart after nine months of discussions amid one-sided moves by the Zionist entity.
"Israel" promised to, but ultimately did not, release Palestinian prisoners and approved construction of hundreds of new homes in "Israeli" settlements.

Abbas wants to set up a unity government with Hamas by the end of the month.
Psaki said Kerry reiterated the need for any Palestinian government to recognize "Israel", commit to nonviolence and abide by previous agreements."

Source: News Agencies, Edited by website team