Jordanian media reports Israel capitulates to advance peace-talks by agreeing to freeze settlements, release prisoners & define borders ahead of peace talks, according to unconfirmed Palestinian sources.

By Elior Levy

Jordanian media reported that a joint Israeli, Palestinian, American and Jordanian summit will possibly be announced soon, in a move which will signal the restarting of the stalled peace process.

Netanyahu, Kerry earlier this week – Photo: Moshe Milner, GPO

According to the reports, which cite Palestinian sources, the Americans told the Palestinian side on Friday that Israel agreed to their preconditions of settlement construction freeze, prisoners’ release and defining the borders on which basis the negotiations will be held, though these will be implemented gradually, and not all at once.

According to the report, it was also settled that the talks will focus on issues of borders and security. So far, no official Palestinian confirmation to the reports was given.

US State Secretary John Kerry‘s press conference in Amman, Jordan was cancelled on Saturday, and no reason was given. However, Kerry decided to also cancel his visit to the United Arab Emirates scheduled for today due to planned meetings with Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu and Palestinian President Mahmoud Abbas .

Kerry and Abbas met on Saturday morning in Amman for the second time in 24 hours.

The American secretary will return to Israel later today and will meet this evening with Netanyahu.

Meanwhile, Chinese news agency Xinhua reported that according to a senior Palestinian official President Mahmoud Abbas told Kerry on Friday that Israel’s overtures are not enough to restart the peace process.

Abbas told Kerry in the Amman meeting that Israel must freeze settlement construction, adopt the two-state solution and recognize the 1967 line before talks are initiated.

View original Ynet publication at: http://www.ynetnews.com/articles/0,7340,L-4398361,00.html