Kerry brings Israel-Palestinian talks close to fruition
Israeli and Jordanian sources told DEBKAfile late Wednesday that the first direct Israeli-Palestinian encounter for resuming peace talks is imminent. Jordanian sources said the deal was “in the bag” as a result of US Secretary of State John Kerry’s talks in Amman. In his sixth round of shuttle diplomacy, Kerry persuaded Palestinian leader Mahmoud Abbas Tuesday night not to wait for the end of Ramadan to reopen the peace track with Israel, but to go ahead without delay. When he met Arab League foreign ministers during the day, the US Secretary obtained the consent of Egyptian and Gulf rulers led by Saudi Arabia to back Abbas up on peace talks with the Jewish state.