Kerry trying to keep peace effort alive
LONDON – U.S. Secretary of State John Kerry worked Wednesday to keep the Palestinians committed to his hope of restarting Mideast peace talks despite Palestinian President Mahmoud Abbas’ move to set up an interim government with a militant group that refuses to recognize Israel.
Kerry met with Abbas in a London hotel for the first time since peace negotiations collapsed last month.
Kerry, who is in London for talks about the Syrian civil war and political unrest in Ukraine, said he planned to have an informal meeting with Abbas and that he did not plan to offer any proposals.
State Department spokeswoman Jen Psaki said that during the two-hour meeting, Kerry reiterated U.S. support for the Palestinian people.
The talks fell apart after nine months of discussions amid one-sided moves by both the Palestinians and Israelis.
Associated Press
