'Talks between Netanyahu, Kerry might lead to breakthrough'

JERUSALEM (Xinhua) - Israeli Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu and US Secretary of State John Kerry embarked on their third meeting in 48 hours on Saturday evening amid intense talks' marathon in Israel and Jordan.

A diplomatic source in Jerusalem told Xinhua prior to the meeting that the meeting "might lead to a breakthrough and the resumption of the peace talks."

"Kerry is set to deliver a statement tomorrow and it's hard to believe that he would have postponed the planned press conference (supposed to take place in Jordan on Saturday noon) if he didn't expect to deliver good news at the end of his visit," the source added.

Kerry, who has been on a back and forth shuttle of talks with Israeli leaders in Jerusalem and Palestinian leaders in Amman, Jordan in the past 48 hours, postponed a planned trip to the United Arab Emirates, which was supposed to start on Saturday night.

This is Kerry's fifth visit in the region since he took office as secretary of state, in a continuing effort to get both parties back to the negotiations table. Peace talks between Israel and the Palestinians broke down in 2010 over Israel's growing construction in the West Bank and east Jerusalem.

Kerry is supposedly pushing both sides to hold a diplomatic summit next week in Jordan, according to reports in both Israeli and Jordanian media.

A diplomatic source told the Walla! news website Saturday that Israel is willing to release prisoners on a gradual basis, and not to build in the settlements, but is reluctant to publicly declare it.

Despite the signs of a possible breakthrough, there have also been also reports to the contrary.

A Palestinian official told Xinhua reporters in Ramallah that there are "still no results that may actually bring to the renewal of the negotiations among both parties."
 

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