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Signs of progress in Kerry peace bid

US Secretary of State John Kerry extended his trip to the middle east to meet with Palestinian Authority President Mahmoud Abbas in an effort overcome obstacles to resuming negotiations.

Palestinian President Mahmoud Abbas (R) gestures during a meeting with U.S. Secretary of State John Kerry in the West Bank city of Ramallah July 19, 2013.  REUTERS/Fadi Arouri/Pool (WEST BANK - Tags: POLITICS) - RTX11S3S
Palestinian President Mahmoud Abbas (R) gestures during a meeting with US Secretary of State John Kerry in the West Bank city of Ramallah, July 19, 2013. — REUTERS/Fadi

Signs of progress?

The State Department released a photo of Secretary of State John Kerry meeting with Palestinian Authority President Mahmoud Abbas today in Ramallah, amid reports Friday suggesting Kerry may be on the verge of announcing agreement on relaunching Israeli-Palestinian peace talks.

Kerry extended his trip to the region Friday to meet with Abbas to see if he could overcome obstacles to resuming negotiations.

Kerry's helicopter ride from Amman to the West Bank capital was delayed two hours while he made phone calls to Israeli, Palestinian and US officials Friday, the New York Times reported.

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