Negotiations between Israel and the Palestinian Authority were on life support this week as the PA threatened to abandon talks and seek action against Israel at the United Nations and other international forums. US Secretary of State John Kerry was in Jerusalem and Ramallah this week for emergency consultations with both sides in order to try and salvage the talks and extend the negotiations past their current deadline of April 30th. Kerry’s efforts include getting Israel to agree to the release of hundreds of Palestinian security prisoners in exchange for the continuation of negotiations through the end of 2014, as well as decreasing building activity in Israeli communities in the West Bank and eastern neighborhoods of Jerusalem. To sweeten the deal for Israel, the US has reportedly agreed to release Jonathan Pollard, the Israeli spy who has served nearly three decades in prison and is reportedly in poor health. Read More
