Kerry seeks to revive Mideast peace plan

US Secretary of State John Kerry speaks to US foreign service workers during his visit to the US Consulate General in Jerusalem April 8, 2013. [Photo/Agencies]

US Secretary of State John Kerry is looking to breathe new life into dormant Middle East peace talks in meetings on Monday with Israeli Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu and other senior Israeli and Palestinian officials, amid talk of modifying a decade-old Arab plan that's long been greeted with skepticism by the Jewish state.

A day after meeting one-on-one with Palestinian President Mahmoud Abbas, Kerry spent the morning of Israel's Holocaust memorial day at Yad Vashem, laying down a red, white and blue wreath at the nation's monument for the 6 million Jews murdered during World War II. He was scheduled to meet privately on Monday with Palestinian Prime Minister Salam Fayyad and Israeli President Shimon Peres before a dinner with Netanyahu and other Israeli officials.

Kerry is trying to end a stalemate between the Israelis and Palestinians during which they've hardly negotiated peace at all. Kerry has yet to outline any new plan, but US officials said he is exploring several ideas to try to corral both sides back into direct talks.

Peace talks revival

Palestinian and Arab officials have pointed to one idea in particular: An attempt to revive, with modifications, the 2002 Arab Peace Initiative, which offered a comprehensive peace with Israel in exchange for a pullout from territories captured in the 1967 Six-Day War.

The officials said Kerry is seeking greater Arab-Israeli security commitments and softer language on borders as part of the plan.

But key obstacles remain. Israel has not lifted its objections, and the Palestinians said they turned down a request from Kerry for the proposed changes.

On Sunday, Kerry and Abbas discussed reviving Israeli-Palestinian peace talks, but neither side offered details on how, when and whether that might happen.

Kerry, who spoke with Abbas for about an hour after a 20-minute group meeting, is on his third trip to the region in two weeks, having accompanied US President Barack Obama on his March 20-22 visit and returned alone a day later.

A senior US official described Sunday's talks, which took place after a week marked by clashes between Palestinian youths and Israeli security forces in the West Bank, as a constructive meeting but said little about substance.

Kerry will visit China on Saturday and Sunday as the guest of Foreign Minister Wang Yi, ministry spokesman Hong Lei announced at a Monday news briefing.

During the visit, Wang and Kerry will exchange views on China-US relations, as well as international and regional issues of common concern, Hong said.

China and the US are at a crucial juncture in maintaining their relations, Hong said.

He said China is ready to work with the US to fulfill the consensus reached by both leaders, increase strategic mutual trust, deepen pragmatic cooperation and manage disparities.

He called on both sides to boost bilateral ties and explore a new type of relationship to benefit both countries.

AP-Reuters-Xinhua