Kerry aims for Israel-Palestine peace accord in 9 months
US Secretary of State John Kerry has said that both Israel and Palestine have agreed to put all issues necessary to achieve a final status agreement "on the table for negotiation."
Flanked by Israeli and Palestinian negotiators, Secretary of State John Kerry said Tuesday that the United States will play the role of facilitator in final status talks between the parties that he hopes will lead to an agreement in nine months.
“The parties agreed here today that all of the final status issues, all of the core issues, and all other issues, are all on the table for negotiation,” Kerry told journalists at a press appearance with Israel’s Justice Minister Tzipi Livni and Palestinian chief negotiator Saab Erekat at the State Department Tuesday.
“And they are on the table with one simple goal," Kerry continued. "Our objective is to achieve a final status agreement over the course of next nine months.”
Describing the atmosphere in two days of talks as “constructive, positive,” Kerry said the parties had agreed to “remain engaged in sustained, continuous and substantive meetings” on the core issues over the next nine months, beginning with a meeting in two weeks in either Israel or the West Bank.
