Ammon News - AMMONNEWS - Ongoing efforts to resume peace negotiations between the Israelis and Palestinians have been able to narrow the "wide gaps" that existed at the launch of the efforts a few months ago, US Secretary of State John Kerry said.
In a press conference held in Amman with his Jordanian counterpart Nasser Judeh, Kerry expressed that he is optimistic about the path of peace efforts carried out by the Palestinian and Israeli sides with support from the United States and Arab League nations.
Kerry, who arrived in Amman on Tuesday on his sixth visit in the past few months, met with Palestinian leader Mahmoud Abbas over a five-hour dinner to discuss efforts to restart the peace talks and the details of the Arab Peace Initiative.
Kerry also met with senior Arab officials on Wednesday, including Arab League Secretary General Nabil Arabi, and briefed the Arab League ministerial delegation on his efforts to restart the peace talks and American views on the ongoing crises in Syria and Egypt.
Arab League representatives on Wednesday expressed to Kerry that the core issue of instability in the region is the Arab-Israeli conflict, stressing that direct negotiations between the two sides is the only way to achieve comprehensive peace.
Kerry expressed that more details still need to be worked on, yet such efforts need to be done in a "quiet manner." He highlighted the need to avoid speculations and stop predicting an impasse in the peace efforts, hence, "both sides continue to work in good faith and good effort quietly."
While avoiding clarifying details of the peace efforts, Kerry highlighted economic and security issues being worked out between both sides, including efforts to boost the Palestinian economy and alleviate unemployment through job creation and introduction of approaches that tangible differences in the daily lives of Palestinians.
On security issues, he noted that Arab states are ready to commit to a regional security framework, stressing that Israel will not sign a peace treaty if it does not feel secured.
"The economic and security measures are not substitutes to the political track," Kerry emphasized, noting that the political solution is the main gateway to a comprehensive peace process between Palestinians and Israelis.
Jordan's Minister of Foreign Affairs and Expatriate Affairs Nasser Judeh reiterated Kerry's emphasis on the need for both sides to work "away from the light," to reach decisive milestones and avoid failure of the negotiations.
"Jordan is a stakeholder in this issue, it is in [Jordan's] interest to have an independent Palestinian state with East Jerusalem as its capital," Judeh said.
The Arab Peace Initiative is the only solution that is real, promising peace and stability to Palestinians and Israelis and the region.
On the ongoing conflict in Syria, both Kerry and Judeh reiterated their countries' stance towards encouraging a "political solution" that would ensure the stability and unity of Syria, and putting an end to the violence there.
Secretary Kerry renewed his country's commitment to helping Jordan cope with the challenges that arise from hosting over 550,000 Syrian refugees.
Judeh stressed that Jordan is still in need of more support from the international community, amid rising challenges facing vital sectors in Jordan, including energy, water, health, education, and businesses.
Kerry also met with Jordan's King Abdullah II on Wednesday, and discussed bilateral relations between the two countries and ongoing developments in the region.
"The United States and the global community are very grateful to Jordan, King Abdullah, and the people of Jordan for opening their doors and hosting refugees," Kerry said.
Kerry reiterated that the United States provided "very significant" assistance to the Syrian opposition, including arms, along with support and aid provided to the Syrian opposition forces by Arab nations and "Friends of Syria" states.
On the crisis in Egypt, Kerry expressed that the challenges posed by the instability of Egypt are "very real," citing a vital threat to the security of the region, the Sinai Peninsula, Gaza, and to the Egyptian peace treaty with Israel.
The US continues to be broadly committed to an inclusive democratic process in Egypt, Kerry said, highlighting that the US is deeply concerned over the military's action in ousting former Egyptian President Mohammad Mursi and the suspension of the constitution.
Asked whether the US viewed the events in Egypt as a military coup, Kerry said that "We will not rush to judgement," and that the US needs to review its policies and the events that took place.
He expressed however that he is confident of some of the figures in the opposition that have been appointed in the new Egyptian government, particularly amid over $13 billion in aid reaching Egypt's budget from Arab Gulf nations that will assist the new government in dealing with the challenges in Egypt.
Judeh, who recently returned from a visit to Egypt where he met with Egyptian senior officials, said that the military there has instated a political road map, "we need to give them the benefit of the doubt," he noted.
He expressed that his recent visit was "reassuring," as he viewed that the political and constitutional path is on track.
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