Kerry, Netanyahu sit for third time

US Secretary of State John Kerry met Israeli Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu for the third time in three days on Friday, as he tries to salvage faltering peace talks with the Palestinians, dpa reported.

Both sides have expressed skepticism that the talks relaunched in July will lead to a deal within nine months. Palestinians have expressed anger over Israel's announcement of settlement building in the West Bank and East Jerusalem.

The talks have concided with rising violence in the occupied West Bank, where two Palestinians have been killed by Israeli soldiers in the last 48 hours. Twelve Palestinians and three Israelis have been killed since the talks were renewed in July.

Kerry was later to fly to Geneva to attend nuclear talks between Iran and six world powers.

Iran's nuclear programme is a major concern for Israel, which is opposed to easing crippling economic sanctions imposed by the West to force the Islamic Republic to abandon controversial uranium enrichment.

Israel views a nuclear-armed Iran as an existential threat and has not ruled out military strikes.


/Trend/