(VOVworld) - US Secretary of State John Kerry plans to travel to the Middle East to call for calm amid a spate of violence between Israelis and Palestinians.
State Department spokesman John Kirby could not confirm the timetable nor the venue of any talks and played down the possibility of a revived peace process.
Kirby said Kerry wanted both sides to take firm action to deescalate the tension, to restore calm, and to try to move forward towards a two-state solution. Kerry said both Palestine and Israel are facing challenges as the talk of two states has faded.
They should take positive steps to reduce tension and resume peace negotiations, Kerry said.