Kerry seeks to allay fears on Mideast deal

Jerusalem: US Secretary of State John Kerry held a second day of talks with Israelis and Palestinians on Friday, seeking to overcome deep reservations about a framework to guide negotiations towards a peace deal.

American officials have privately said they believe the direct talks resumed in July after a three-year hiatus have reached a new phase, as a late April deadline for an accord looms, but are struggling to overcome fierce opposition from both sides. Veteran US Senator John McCain, who is also visiting Israel with a congressional delegation, said Israeli Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu had today voiced deep concerns in separate "detailed" discussions about the proposals being put forward by Kerry. "Prime Minister Netanyahu has serious, serious concerns about the plan as has been presented to him, whether it be on the ability of Israel to defend its borders or the reliability of a Palestinian state and their intentions," McCain told reporters in Jerusalem. Israelis were also particularly concerned about "their overall security, whether it be boundaries, whether it be areas under Palestinian control," he added. Perhaps in a move to allay some of the Jewish state`s fears about US support for its security, Israel and the United States successfully carried out a joint missile test on today. The two nations successfully launched the Arrow-3 anti-ballistic missile system over the Mediterranean, the Israeli defence ministry said. Kerry was meeting again today with Netanyahu, after five hours of talks yesterday following his arrival for his 10th trip as secretary of state. The top US diplomat was later heading to Ramallah for discussions with Palestinian president Mahmud Abbas at his headquarters in the occupied West Bank. But Netanyahu yesterday was downbeat on progress so far, launching a scathing attack on Abbas. "I know that you`re committed to peace, I know that I`m committed to peace. But unfortunately given the actions and words of Palestinian leaders, there`s growing doubt in Israel that the Palestinians are committed to peace," Netanyahu said. Referring to Israel`s release of long-serving Palestinian prisoners as part of the talks, the Israeli leader said Abbas had "embraced terrorists as heroes. To glorify the murderers of innocent women and men as heroes is an outrage". But Kerry vowed the United States was committed to working with both sides "to narrow the differences on a framework that will provide the agreed guidelines for permanent status negotiations". "This will take time and it will take compromise from both sides," he warned, saying however it "would be a significant breakthrough". US officials have refused to release any details about the framework, but hope to conclude it soon.