Following a Sunday 22 Tammuz 5773 meeting in Ramallah between US Secretary of State John Kerry and PA Chairman Mahmoud Abbas (Abu Mazen), “no breakthrough” is being reported.

PA Chief Negotiator Dr. Saeb Erekat explained to the media that while progress may be reported, “there was no breakthrough”. Earlier in the day PA (Palestinian Authority) officials released statements to the media rejecting Israeli goodwill gestures, a willingness to release over 100 additional terrorists as “insignificant”.

At the start of the weekly cabinet meeting in Jerusalem on Sunday Prime Minister Binyamin Netanyahu released the following statement regarding talks between Israel and Secretary Kerry, who hopes to jumpstart negotiations between Israel and the PA.

“I would like to draw your attention to three things: First, the peace process. I held a third meeting with US Secretary of State John Kerry last night until the early morning, along with my colleagues on the negotiating team. Israel is ready to begin negotiations without delay, without pre-conditions. We are not putting up any impediments on the resumption of the permanent talks and a peace agreement between us and the Palestinians. There are things that we will strongly insist on in the talks themselves, especially security. We will not compromise on security and there will be no agreement that will endanger Israelis’ security, and I believe, I think, that it is necessary that any agreement, if it is achieved, be submitted to the people for a decision.”

(YWN – Israel Desk, Jerusalem)