Kerry may visit Middle East in bid to save peace talks

Following delay of fourth stage of prisoner release, concern mounts about potential collapse of Israeli-Palestinian peace talks • Israeli official: If prime minister goes ahead with the prisoner release, his coalition will not survive.

Shlomo Cesana, Daniel Siryoti, Mati Tuchfeld and Eli Leon

Bereaved relatives demonstrate against the release of terrorists | Photo credit: Yonatan Zindel

Fears of a collapse of the peace talks between the Israelis and Palestinians have prompted U.S. Secretary of State John Kerry to consider making another trip to the region.

After the fourth stage of the prisoner release was delayed Saturday, and following difficulties the U.S. has faced in brokering an extension of talks, the possibility of negotiations falling through has motivated the Americans to renew efforts to try to save the talks.

According to an Associated Press report, members of the U.S. mediation team held an urgent meeting with representatives from both sides, and an Israeli source said indirect talks between both sides continued for a full day with American support.

Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu has not yet said whether the fourth stage of the prisoner release has been delayed or canceled. Several Israeli ministers have said the release will not happen if the peace talks are not extended.

Netanyahu addressed the question Sunday at a meeting of Likud ministers on whether 400 Palestinian prisoners would be released in exchange for the extension of negotiations, as reported in Arabic newspapers.

"There absolutely will not be any deal with the Palestinians about a prisoner release without a clear benefit in return for Israel," Netanyahu said. "And if there is a deal, it will have to be approved by the government."

Netanyahu suggested that the ministers should "avoid making statements until the full picture is clear." He said this should occur within a few days.

"There will either be a deal, or it will fall apart," he said.

A Israeli political official said Sunday that "if the prime minister decides to go ahead with the prisoner release, I predict that his coalition will not survive, because Habayit Hayehudi will leave and other ministers will also vote against it."

Deputy Minister Ofir Akunis also warned that "another release of murderers will shake up the coalition."

Chief Palestinian negotiator Saeb Erekat said Sunday that if Israel does not release the 26 prisoners it has promised to release in the fourth stage, the Palestinians will not discuss the possibility of extending the negotiations.

"There are sensitive talks being held on the issue. There is a nine-month period that has not yet ended. We will honor our commitment not to turn to international organizations during this time," Erekat said.

A Palestinian Authority source told Israel Hayom that real progress has begun in U.S.-mediated talks on the fourth stage of the prisoner release, and that the 26 prisoners will likely be set free before the end of the week.

Habayit Hayehudi Chairman Naftali Bennett said, "The idea that we will release more and more prisoners in exchange for the right to hold negotiations is crazy. Regarding the release of more prisoners, I will be clear: It will not happen."

Housing Minister Uri Ariel (Habayit Hayehudi) said,: "There is no country, including the United States, that would release hundreds of murderers in order to hold negotiations."

Meanwhile, International Relations, Intelligence and Strategic Affairs Minister Yuval Steinitz (Likud) said that "the decision to release prisoners is very difficult, but it has less strategic significance than the decision on a construction freeze [in Judea and Samaria]."

Environmental Protection Minister Amir Peretz (Hatnuah) said, "I would prefer a construction freeze in the territories over a prisoner release, but unfortunately there are officials in the government preventing that."

Opposition Leader MK Isaac Herzog (Labor) said, "The option of a prisoner release is a bad option." Meretz leader MK Zehava Gal-On called on Netanyahu to "make brave decisions, even if they are difficult."

Deputy Defense Minister Danny Danon (Likud), who met with bereaved relatives of terror victims on Sunday, said, "If you were to ask [imprisoned Israeli spy Jonathan] Pollard, he would be against [the release]."

President Shimon Peres, in Austria for a state visit, told Organization for Security and Cooperation in Europe Secretary-General Lamberto Zannier on Sunday that there had been progress in the negotiations with the Palestinians.

"I believe there will be updates either tonight or tomorrow night," Peres said.