Israeli-Palestinian talks on verge of deadlock

A senior Palestinian Authority (PA) official said that there will be no direct talks with the Zionist entity if it keeps on expanding illegal settlements in the occupied West Bank. "The Israeli side is determined to continue its settlement and we cannot continue negotiations under these unprecedented settlement attacks," the official said following a meeting between Israeli and Palestinian negotiators, Al-Manar reported. "The Palestinian-Israeli negotiations broke down during the session on Tuesday night," he revealed. Earlier in the day, acting PA chief Mahmoud Abbas described Israel’s settlement activities as damaging to the so-called peace talks. Secretary of State John Kerry said also Tuesday that the Israeli- Palestinian talks had run into difficulties but thought it still possible some agreement could be reached. "I come here without any illusions about the difficulties, but I come here determined to work," Kerry said after arriving in the occupied Palestinian territories ahead of talks on Wednesday with Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu and Palestinian President Mahmoud Abbas. "We believe this is something that is possible and that it's good for all and can be achieved," Kerry told a remembrance service for late Zionist Prime Minister, Yitzhak Rabin.