It sounds like something is afoot in the Middle East and Secretary of State John Kerry might be succeeding in getting some talks going between Israel and the Palestinians.
Mr. Kerry’s decision to rip up his itinerary and stay in Israel has heightened expectations of a potential breakthrough.
After canceling a Saturday news conference in Jordan and a planned trip later that day to the United Arab Emirates, Mr. Kerry flew by helicopter to Amman for a two-hour meeting with Mahmoud Abbas, the president of the Palestinian Authority, and his advisers, including the Palestinian negotiator Saeb Erekat.
Asked if he was making progress as the meeting got under way, Mr. Kerry replied, “Working hard.”
Mr. Kerry then headed back to Israel for an evening meeting with Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu of Israel, his third such meeting in three days. Tzipi Livni, Israel’s minister of justice and the government’s chief negotiator on the Palestinian issue, and Isaac Molho, Mr. Netanyahu’s special envoy, were to attend the meeting as well, according to a State Department official.
The Jerusalem Post doesn’t seem any better informed. Secretary Kerry may have a press conference tomorrow or he may not. Haaretz is of two minds, with one post confirming the imminent announcement of peace talks and another post saying the two sides are “nowhere near” resuming peace talks.
The Middle East has a way of punishing optimists, but I hope Kerry doesn’t come away from all this empty-handed.
