"Kerry to Focus on Palestinian Economy as Part of Peace Process"
Kerry to Focus on Palestinian Economy as Part of Peace Process
By MICHAEL R. GORDON and ISABEL KERSHNER at the NY Times
http://www.nytimes.com/2013/04/09/world/kerry-to-focus-on-palestinian-economy-as-part-of-peace-process.html?_r=0
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Im having discussions about those steps that would get at this issue of mistrust, Mr. Kerry told reporters after meetings on Monday with Israeli and Palestinian officials.
One step, he added, is to move on the economic front because that can be critical to changing perceptions and realities on the ground, all of which can contribute to forward momentum.
Mr. Kerrys latest trip here represents a new phase of American involvement in Middle East diplomacy. On both the Israeli and the Palestinian sides, officials said Mr. Kerrys personal engagement appeared at the least to have put the peace process back on the agenda for the first time in years.
After meeting on Sunday night with Mahmoud Abbas, the president of the Palestinian Authority, Mr. Kerry met on Monday with Salam Fayyad, the Palestinian prime minister, and Shimon Peres, the Israeli president.
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