US Secretary of State John Kerry is back in Israel on Thursday, 14 Sivan 5773, during which time he will meet with Prime Minister Binyamin Netanyahu, President Shimon Peres and Justice Minister Tzipi Livni. Kerry will also head to Ramallah for meetings with leading PA (Palestinian Authority) officials.

Kerry’s agenda first and foremost will address the ongoing warfare in Syria and well as ongoing American efforts to bring Israel and the PA back to the negotiating table.

Prime Minister Binyamin Netanyahu on Thursday morning, in Jerusalem, made the following remarks at the start of his meeting with Kerry:

“John, it’s a pleasure to welcome you in Jerusalem. You’re an old personal friend and a long-standing friend of Israel, and that friendship was demonstrated in President Obama’s historic visit here in March. It was demonstrated yesterday in an extraordinary resolution by the US Senate to stand with Israel against Iran’s nuclear program. I want to commend the House Foreign Affairs Committee for upgrading the sanctions so we’ll discuss Iran; we’ll discuss the terrible carnage and instability in Syria, but above all, what we want to do is to restart the peace talks with the Palestinians. You’ve been working at it a great deal. We’ve been working at it together. It’s something I want, it’s something you want. It’s something I hope the Palestinians want as well and we ought to be successful for a simple reason. When there’s a will, we’ll find a way. Thank you. So welcome.”

(YWN – Israel Desk, Jerusalem)