Kerry to meet Netanyahu in Germany, then Abbas in Middle East

US Secretary of State John Kerry said Sunday he would meet the Israeli and Palestinian leaders on separate trips to Germany and the Middle East after days of violence in Israel and the Palestinian territories.

"Later this week I will meet with prime minister Netanyahu because he will be in Germany... we will meet there," he said in Paris, where he made a brief stop as part of a Europe tour that has already taken him to Milan.

"And then I will go to the region and I will meet with president (Mahmud) Abbas, I will meet with King Abdullah (of Jordan) and others.

"And in between I will have some key meetings on the subject of Syria with critical players with respect to that."

Israel and the Palestinian territories have been plunged in violence and unrest for more than two weeks, leaving 41 Palestinians and seven Israelis dead and raising fears of a full-scale Palestinian uprising.
Israel has implemented major security measures after a series of stabbing attacks on its territory by mostly young Palestinians, and violent protests have erupted in annexed east Jerusalem, the occupied West Bank and the Gaza Strip.

Kerry did not give any further details as to when exactly he would meet Netanyahu and Abbas, or where in the Middle East he would hold talks with the Palestinian leader.

Source: AFP