Kerry back to Mideast to push peace talks

Kerry back to Mideast to push peace talks

RAMALLAH, West Bank (AP) — Continuing a furious pace of shuttle diplomacy aimed at securing an elusive Israeli-Palestinian peace deal by spring, U.S. Secretary of State John Kerry arrived in the Middle East today on his ninth trip of the year. In closed-door talks with Palestinian President Mahmoud Abbas and Israeli Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu today and Friday, Kerry will be following up on elements of a West Bank security plan, ideas which he unveiled on his most recent visit to the region just last week, and other points of potential progress. Kerry’s latest visit comes amid Palestinian unhappiness with the security plan and few, if any, tangible signs of progress.