Palestinian women chant slogans and wave Palestinian and red flags, background, that represent the Palestinian Marxist-Leninist secular political and military organization, during a demonstration organized by the Democratic Front for the Liberation of Palestine, against resuming peace talks with Israel in Gaza City, Thursday, Jan. 2, 2014. As U.S. Secretary of State John Kerry returns to the region Thursday, the American message to the Israeli and Palestinian leaders is clear It's time to start making hard decisions , Kerry is bringing his own ideas for the outlines of a peace deal, and early indications are that the plan will include hard-to-swallow choices for both sides. (AP Photo/Hatem Moussa)
January 02, 2014 - 4:20 AM
TEL AVIV, Israel - U.S. Secretary of State John Kerry has arrived in Israel to broker Mideast peace talks that are entering a difficult phase aimed at reaching a two-state solution between the Israelis and Palestinians.
Kerry landed In Tel Aviv on Thursday and was making his way to Jerusalem for talks with Israeli Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu (neh-ten-YAH'-hoo). On Friday, he'll be in the West Bank to talk with Palestinian President Mahmoud Abbas (mahk-MOOD' ah-BAHS').
Kerry is asking both leaders to make tough, highly charged political decisions that would yield the contours of an eventual peace treaty, creating a Palestinian state alongside Israel.
Negotiators from both sides have had some 20 rounds of talks since the summer and this is Kerry's 10th trip to the region to help craft a final peace accord.
News from © The Associated Press, 2014