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Report: Palestinian territories

Kerry under fire over talks stalemate on Jerusalem/Ramallah visit

US Secretary of State John Kerry visited Jerusalem and Ramallah yesterday, his fourth such trip since he took office in February. He met Israeli and Palestinian officials amid criticism that his efforts to restart talks are yet to take hold.

Reuters/Jim Young
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Audio report - Kerry's visit to Jerusalem and Ramallah

Ruth Michaelson

Kerry dismissed criticism of the lack of progress. 

The US government hopes that continued action will succeed in getting both Palestinians and Israelis to return to the negotiating table, he insisted.

Both Israeli Premier Benjamin Netanyahu and Israeli talks representative Tzipi Livni echoed this idea, with Livni arguing that the coming days and weeks will prove “critical”.

Meeting Palestinian President Mahmoud Abbas, Kerry discussed issue such as West Bank settlement expansion that have so far prevented the return to negotiations.

A report by Amnesty International released yesterday condemned both Israel and Hamas, the Islamic party that controls the Gaza Strip, for "war crimes" and "violations of international humanitarian law" during the November 2012 conflict in Gaza.

Hamas spokesperson Fawzi Barhoum dismissed the report as biased, while Israel is yet to comment.

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