Kerry back to Mideast to push peace talks

US Secretary of State John Kerry, continuing a furious pace of shuttle diplomacy aimed at securing an elusive Israeli-Palestinian peace deal by the spring, arrives in the Middle East on Thursday on his ninth trip of the year, Yediot Ahronot newspaper reported. In closed door talks with Israeli Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu and Palestinian President Mahmoud Abbas on Thursday and Friday, Kerry will be following up on elements of a West Bank security plan, ideas for which he unveiled on his most recent visit to the region just last week, and other points of potential progress. Kerry's latest visit comes amid few, if any, tangible signs of progress and Palestinian unhappiness with the security plan. Source: MENA