CMEP Bulletin: Kerry Expects to be Engaged, Israeli Election Results and Analysis

CMEP Bulletin: Kerry Expects to be Engaged, Israeli Election Results and Analysis

weekly CMEP bulletin

Kerry expects to be engaged in Peace Process

Secretary of State Nominee John Kerry told senators at his confirmation hearing on Thursday: “I pray that maybe this will be a moment that will allow us to renew the effort to bring the parties to the negotiating table and go down a different path than the one they were on in the last few years. I would like to try and do that.”

Israeli officials say that they expect Kerry to be engaged personally. Ha’aretz reports that “Kerry will not appoint a special envoy for the peace process and will instead come personally to visit and evaluate the situation.” The paper reports that Kerry will likely visit some time next month.

One official told the paper, “President Obama does not intend to deal with the Israeli-Palestinian issue personally, and will give Kerry full authority, independence and support on the matter…If Kerry thinks there is a chance for progress in the peace process he will invest personal effort in it and will come to the region frequently. But if he sees after a few visits that there is no will from the parties to progress, he will go and deal with other issues such as Africa or relations with China and Russia.”

Click here to continue reading this CMEP Bulletin, inccluding the following items:

  • Israeli election results are in
  • Israeli voting rights
  • Information and registration for CMEP’s annual Advocacy Conference