US Mediators Try to Rescue Mideast Peace Talks
Josef Federman of the Associated Press reports, “American mediators held urgent contacts with Israeli and Palestinian officials Sunday in hopes of salvaging troubled Mideast peace talks — searching for a formula to bring the sides back together and extend the negotiations beyond a current late-April deadline.” Negotiations stalled after the sides were unable to agree on the terms of a promised Israeli prisoner release, with Secretary of State John Kerry considering an unscheduled return to the region in an attempt to extend the peace talks. “This release was meant to be carried out as the talks proceed, and not when they fall apart,” said Yuval Steinitz, member of the Israeli cabinet.