Netanyahu: Peace with Palestinians Becoming More Distant

FILE - Israeli Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu

Israeli Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu says a peace deal with the Palestinians is becoming more and more distant after the latest remarks by Palestinian President Mahmoud Abbas.

Netanyahu said Tuesday he cannot accept any agreement that does not recognize Israel as a Jewish state and does not cancel the right of return of Palestinian refugees.

Abbas said again Monday that he will never recognize a Jewish nation in Israel. The Palestinians have also demanded that refugees have the right to return to land lost when Israel became a nation in 1948.

U.S. Secretary of State John Kerry originally set the end of April as a deadline for a framework peace agreement, but he has since said a deal could take nine more months or longer.

Kerry has given no details on how the talks are progressing.

Talks resumed last July after a three-year lull.