American efforts to reach a "deal" to extend the negotiations between Israel and the Palestinians have reached a severe crisis Tuesday evening. U.S. Secretary of State John Kerry canceled his planned visit to Jerusalem and Ramallah barely two hours after Palestinian President Mahmoud Abbas signed 15 international treaties the Palestinian state is interested in joining, and after earlier in the day Israel issued 700 new tenders for housing units in Jerusalem neighborhood across the Green Line.
In a press conference in Brussels, Belgium Kerry attempted to play down the crisis, and noted that it is premature draw conclusions about the day's events.
"We urge both sides to show restraint," he said. Kerry added that none of the treaties signed by the Palestinian president has anything to do with UN agencies.
"Abbas has given me his word that he will continue to negotiate until end of April," Kerry said.
The American secretary of state said that no agreement has been reached "regarding the release of any prisoner." According to him, there are many possibilities and the decision is up to the Israeli cabinet. Kerry added that efforts to extend the negotiations will continue, but emphasized that "it is up to the parties to make decisions."
Credit to Haaretz
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