Kerry calls Israeli, Palestinian leaders
New US secretary of state speaks with Peres and Abbas about the need to resume peace negotiations
Aaron Kalman is a former writer and breaking news editor for the Times of Israel
Newly appointed US Secretary of State John Kerry called President Shimon Peres and Palestinian Authority President Mahmoud Abbas on Saturday, his first full day in office. He spoke to them about the situation in the Middle East, Israel’s election results and the economic woes of the PA.
Kerry also called officials in Turkey, Canada and Mexico.
The State Department said Kerry spoke with Peres about the formation of Israel’s new government and about the peace process.
Kerry and Abbas were said to have discussed the financial problems the PA is facing and the need to restart negotiations with Israel. Kerry told Abbas that President Barack Obama wanted peace talks to resume, and the two agreed to meet in the near future.
Turkey’s foreign minister, Ahmet Davutoglu, updated Kerry about the investigation into Friday’s suicide bombing at the US Embassy in Ankara.
Among the issues that came up during Kerry’s conversation with Canadian Foreign Minister, John Baird, were Iran, Mali and the proposed oil pipeline that would run from Canada to Texas.
Kerry and Mexico’s foreign minister, Jose Antonio Meade, discussed a deadly blast at the headquarters of Mexico’s state-owned oil company.
Kerry was sworn in Friday afternoon, replacing Hillary Rodham Clinton.
The Associated Press contributed to this report
