Kerry talks to Israeli, Palestinian leaders

PanARMENIAN.Net - New U.S. Secretary of State John Kerry reached out to Israeli and Palestinian leaders in phone calls this weekend, assuring them the Obama administration will continue to pursue a Mideast peace agreement while recognizing the individual concerns on both sides, The Associated Press reported.

Kerry told Israel's Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu of his and President Barack Obama's commitment to support Israel's security and to pursue a lasting peace between Israelis and Palestinians. Netanyahu updated Kerry on his work to form a new government. They also discussed Iran and Syria, and pledged to work together closely.

Kerry commended the Israeli decision to release frozen tax revenues to the Palestinian Authority as an important step. Israel's monthly tax transfers to the Palestinians — the result of taxes and customs duties that Israel collects on behalf of the Palestinians — are a key element in the Palestinian government budget.

In his conversation Sunday with Palestinian President Mahmoud Abbas, Kerry said Obama "is very interested in the peace process and aware of the economic hardships of the Palestinian people," Abbas spokesman Nabel Abu Rdeneh said. Rdeneh also noted that Kerry said he would visit the region for further talks with Abbas "to preserve the political path." No time was set for the visit.

According to the AP, Kerry also talked with Japanese Foreign Minister Fumio Kishida, South Korean Foreign Minister Kim Sung-hwan, Canadian Foreign Minister John Baird and Mexico's foreign minister Jose Antonio Meade. He also got an update from Turkey's foreign minister, Ahmet Davutoglu, about the investigation into the suicide bombing at the U.S. Embassy in Ankara.