As another round of US orchestrated shuttle diplomacy gets underway, US Secretary of State John Kerry is arriving in the region, beginning with a meeting with Jordan’s King Abdullah II.

On Thursday the secretary is scheduled to arrive in Jerusalem where he is expected to meet with Prime Minister Binyamin Netanyahu twice. He will also be traveling to Ramallah to meet with PA Chairman Mahmoud Abbas (Abu Mazen).

Kerry has been pushing both sides as he tries to jumpstart the diplomatic process between Israel and the PA (Palestinian Authority). Prime Minister Binyamin Netanyahu releases statement exhibiting a willingness to return to the negotiating table immediately, without preconditions. The prime minister is also preparing to release additional terrorists in yet another Israeli goodwill measure to the PA.

On Tuesday, 17 Tammuz 5773, senior PA negotiator Dr. Saeb Erekat announced that the basis for resuming talks with Israel is an Israeli willingness that reaching peace with the PA is based on Israel’s return to the pre-1967 boundaries, as was reported by YWN-ISRAEL.

(YWN – Israel Desk, Jerusalem)