Originally posted by the Voice of America.
Voice of America content is produced by the Voice of America,
a United States federal government-sponsored entity, and is in
the public domain.


                  Kerry, Netanyahu Meet on Violence in Israel

   by VOA News

   U.S. Secretary of State John Kerry has arrived in Berlin for talks with
   Israeli Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu on ending the recent uptick
   in violence between Israelis and Palestinians.

   A senior State Department official said Kerry hopes to move the
   dialogue forward in a "more upbeat way" during his talks with Netanyahu
   on Thursday and a Saturday meeting with Palestinian leader Mahmoud
   Abbas in Jordan.

   "We are hoping to encourage all relevant parties to change the nature
   of the public discourse, right now, and move things forward in a more
   positive direction," the official said en route to Berlin.

   Tensions rise

   At least eight Israelis and about 50 Palestinians have been killed
   since the violence erupted nearly a month ago when Palestinians began
   attacking Israeli civilians and soldiers with knives.

   Each side blames the other for the unrest. However, U.S. officials have
   been careful to avoid blaming either Israel or the Palestinians.

    "What we'd like to see are steps being taken, whether they're in word
   or deed, to reduce the tension," State Department spokesman John Kirby
   said Wednesday.

   U.N. Secretary-General Ban Ki-moon said Wednesday he is "not
   optimistic" after his talks with the Israeli and Palestinian leaders.
   He urged both sides to pull back from the brink of what he says could
   erupt into a full-blown Palestinian uprising.

   "We will continue to support all efforts to create the conditions to
   make meaningful negotiations possible," Ban said after meeting with
   Abbas in the West Bank town of Ramallah. "Our most urgent challenge is
   to stop the current wave of violence and avoid any further loss of
   life," he added.

   ''

   Blame game

   Again Wednesday, Netanyahu said Abbas and the Palestinian leadership
   must stop lying about Israel - specifically, rumors that Israel is
   planning to take over an East Jerusalem holy site revered by both Jews
   and Muslims.

   "It is very clear to us that incitement leads to terror," Netanyahu
   said. "The international community must demand that President Abbas
   stop the incitement and stop spreading the lies about the Jewish state
   and about Israel's policies."

   Israel says it has no intention to change the long-standing rules
   overseeing what Muslims call the Noble Sanctuary with the al-Aqsa
   mosque and Jews call the Temple Mount.

   Palestinian view

   But Abbas is unconvinced.

   "The continued occupation and aggression against Christian and Muslim
   holy sites in east Jerusalem, particularly against al-Aqsa, opens the
   door to a religious conflict," Abbas said Wednesday. "We don't want it
   and we are warning over its consequences."

   The violence also stems from young Palestinians tired of the dim
   outlook for peace, little economic opportunity and Israeli settlements
   in lands they want for a future state.

   Netanyahu created more controversy Wednesday when he said a former
   Palestinian leader, Haj Amin al-Husseini, talked Nazi dictator Adolf
   Hitler into slaughtering European Jews during World War II.

   Historians have long-disputed this claim and said Husseini, while
   pro-Nazi, had only modest influence with Hitler.

   Kerry trip

   Berlin is the first stop of a four-nation tour for Kerry that also
   includes stops in Vienna and Riyadh.

   Another focal point of his tour is Syria, and the steps needed to curb
   the country's internal turmoil.

   While in Germany, Kerry will also meet with Foreign Minister
   Frank-Walter Steinmeier and EU High Representative Federica Mogherini.
     __________________________________________________________________

   [1]http://www.voanews.com/content/kerry-netanyahu-meet-on-violence-in-i
   srael/3018133.html

References

   1. http://www.voanews.com/content/kerry-netanyahu-meet-on-violence-in-israel/3018133.html