Kerry Back in the Middle East To Resume Israeli-Palestinian Peace Talks

Breakthrough unlikely

(Reuters)—Secretary of State John Kerry begins a new push on Thursday to revive peace talks between Israeli and Palestinian leaders, but there are few signs he will make a breakthrough on his fifth visit to the region.

Over the next three days, Kerry will shuffle between meetings with Jordan's King Abdullah and Palestinian leader Mahmoud Abbas in Amman, and Israeli Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu in Jerusalem.

His arrival in Amman late on Wednesday was greeted with news that Israel had authorized construction of 69 housing units in a Jewish settlement in East Jerusalem.