Kerry cancels UAE trip in effort to revive peace process
US Secretary of State John Kerry, left, speaks with Palestinian President Mahmud Abbas at the World Economic Forum at the King Hussein Convention Centre in Jordan on May 26, 2013.
Secretary of State John Kerry, in his continued effort to re-start peace talks between Israel and Palestine, called off his trip to the United Arab Emirates, an official said.
Due to arrive in Abu Dhabi to meet with his UAE counterpart on Saturday, Kerry instead ran between Jerusalem and Amman to meet with leaders from both sides.
"The secretary appreciates our partnership with the UAE, has phoned his counterpart Foreign Minister Abdullah bin Zayed (al-Nahayan) with his regrets, and looks forward to visiting again in the future," State Department deputy spokeswoman Marie Harf said.
"Because Secretary Kerry's meetings on the peace process remain ongoing in Jerusalem and Amman, we will no longer be able to make a stop in Abu Dhabi," Harf added.
An unidentified Israeli official with knowledge of the talks told Reuters that Kerry's many visits could result in both Israel and Palestine consenting to a meeting backed by the United States and Jordan.
"There is such a possibility, but it is not certain," the official told Reuters.
Kerry is on a long international tour that has taken him to India, Qatar, Saudi Arabia and India. He is scheduled to fly to Brunei on Monday for an Asian nation meeting.
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