U.S. Secretary John Kerry has held talks in Jordan on efforts to secure an Israeli-Palestinian peace agreement.
Kerry met Friday in the Red Sea port city of Aqaba with Jordanian King Abdullah. Details of their meeting were not immediately made public.
The secretary of state hopes to announce a framework deal by the end of April. But Israeli and Palestinian negotiators remain divided over several issues, with each side blaming the other for the lack of progress.
Israeli Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu wants his negotiating partner, Palestinian President Mahmoud Abbas, to recognize Israel as a Jewish state.
Mr. Abbas has refused -- saying it would endanger the rights of Arab Israeli citizens and Palestinian refugees who wish to return to their former homes.
They must also agree on security agreements, borders, and the status of Jerusalem in a future Palestinian state.
If a deal were to be reached between Israel the West Bank-based Palestinian Authority, it is not clear how this would affect the Gaza Strip, which is controlled by Hamas, which has rejected the talks.
Kerry met Friday in the Red Sea port city of Aqaba with Jordanian King Abdullah. Details of their meeting were not immediately made public.
The secretary of state hopes to announce a framework deal by the end of April. But Israeli and Palestinian negotiators remain divided over several issues, with each side blaming the other for the lack of progress.
Israeli Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu wants his negotiating partner, Palestinian President Mahmoud Abbas, to recognize Israel as a Jewish state.
Mr. Abbas has refused -- saying it would endanger the rights of Arab Israeli citizens and Palestinian refugees who wish to return to their former homes.
They must also agree on security agreements, borders, and the status of Jerusalem in a future Palestinian state.
If a deal were to be reached between Israel the West Bank-based Palestinian Authority, it is not clear how this would affect the Gaza Strip, which is controlled by Hamas, which has rejected the talks.