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January 3, 2014

Israeli Politicians Mark New West Bank Settlements as Kerry Arrives for Talks 
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Secretary of State John Kerry has returned to the Middle East in a bid
to revive peace talks between Israelis and Palestinians. On the day of
Kerry's arrival, the Israeli interior minister and a group of lawmakers
attended a ceremony marking construction of new settlement homes in the
West Bank's Jordan Valley. All settlements in the West Bank are
considered illegal under international law, and Palestinians have warned
they could derail the talks. Kerry's visit comes as former Israeli Prime
Minister Ariel Sharon is near death. Sharon has been in a coma for
years, but doctors say his condition has declined.

 

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