US Secretary of State John Kerry said Israeli and Palestinian negotiators have agreed to meet again within two weeks to start substantive negotiations on a peace deal with the goal of reaching such a deal within nine months.
Speaking Tuesday at a press conference as the two sides wrapped up an initial round of talks in Washington, Kerry said they were committed to “sustained, continuous and substantive negotiations on the core issues.’’
He said the next round of negotiations would take place in either Israel or the Palestinian territories at an as yet-unspecified date before mid-August.
“The parties have agreed here today that all of the final status issues, all of the core issues and all other issues are all on the table for negotiation. And they are on the table with one simple goal: a view to ending the conflict,” the Secretary of State said.
“Our objective will be to achieve a final status agreement over the course of the next nine months.”
Kerry said the negotiations, to be mediated on a day-to-day basis by his new Mideast peace envoy, Martin Indyk, would be cloaked in secrecy and that the parties had agreed that he would be the only person to comment on them. He quickly added that he would not comment on them, leaving unclear the framework for the talks that he struggled for six months to get back on track.
He said he was aware of the deep skepticism surrounding the new push for peace and acknowledged that the road ahead would be difficult. Yet, he said he was hopeful an agreement could be reached. ‘‘While I understand the skepticism, I don’t share it. And I don’t think we have time for it,’’ he said.
‘‘I firmly believe the leaders, the negotiators and citizens invested in this effort can make peace for one simple reason: because they must,’’ Kerry said. ‘‘A viable two-state solution is the only way this conflict can end. And there is not much time to achieve it. And there is no other alternative.’’
A White House official announced that US President Barack Obama met privately with the Israeli and Palestinian negotiators, Tzipi Livni and Saeb Erekat.
The first direct talks between Israelis and Palestinians since three years began Monday with a dinner at the State Department in Washington.