Kerry to Meet with Palestinian Officials Amid Push for UN Vote
by VOA News December 16, 2014
U.S. Secretary of State John Kerry meets Tuesday with chief Palestinian negotiator Saeb Erekat ahead of the likely introduction of a draft U.N. Security Council resolution that would set a deadline for Israel's withdrawal from Palestinian territories.
The talks in London follow Kerry's multi-stop effort Monday to assess the situation, which included talks with Israeli Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu in Rome and the foreign ministers of France, Britain and Germany in Paris.
Kerry is also due to meet with Arab League chief Nabil Elaraby on Tuesday, a day before Palestinian diplomats say their proposed resolution could be put before the council. A vote would then be possible on Thursday, though the timing of the draft is uncertain and a vote would not be guaranteed.
The proposal, circulated by Jordan, sets a two-year deadline for the end of Israeli occupation.
Another proposal being discussed by France, Britain and Germany would set a deadline only for the resolution of peace talks.
A Security Council resolution would need the approval of nine of the 15 members. Any of the five permanent council members can veto a resolution. That group includes Britain, France, China, Russia, and the United States, which has used the prospect of a veto to prevent previous council action related to Israel.
U.S. State Department officials said Monday that there are 'certain things' the U.S. would not support, and officials have made it clear the U.S. prefers using negotiations rather than setting hard deadlines through a council resolution.
Netanyahu also expressed Monday after the three-hour meeting with Kerry that Israel does not want others to 'force conditions' that he says will endanger the country and 'lead to deterioration in the regional situation.'
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