U.S. SAYS PALESTINIAN-ISRAELI MEETING ‘CONSTRUCTIVE’

Jerusalem, 7 Jumadil Akhir 1435/7 April 2014 (MINA) – The U.S. consulate in Jerusalem on Monday described as “constructive” a meeting that brought together Palestinian and Israeli negotiators as well as American mediators.

“Israeli and Palestinian negotiators met last night to discuss ways to overcome the crisis in the talks,” the U.S. mission said in a brief statement.

“The meeting was serious and constructive and both sides requested that the United States convene another meeting today to continue the effort,” it added, without clarifying whether a meeting would be held, Anadolu Agency quoted by Mi’raj Islamic News Agency (MINA) as reporting.

The U.S.-sponsored peace talks hit a snag only a few weeks before an April 29 deadline after Israel halted the release of 26 Palestinian prisoners as stipulated by a previous deal.

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On Friday, U.S. Secretary of State John Kerry said that his administration would evaluate its role in the Israeli-Palestinian peace process, saying both sides had taken unhelpful steps, driving Washington to reconsider its position.

“This is not an open-ended effort; it never has been. It is reality-check time, and we intend to evaluate precisely what the next steps will be,” Kerry told a press conference in Rabat.

“It is regrettable that in the last few days both sides have taken steps that are not helpful, and that’s evident to everybody.”

The U.S.-sponsored peace talks had resumed last summer after a nearly three-year hiatus. (T/P09/E01).

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Mi’raj Islamic News Agency (MINA).