(VOVworld) – US Secretary of State John Kerry on Wednesday unexpectedly postponed his Italy visit to fly to the Middle East, in a bid to salvage foundering peace talks between Israel and Palestine.

US Secretary of State John Kerry (L) met with Palestinian President Mahmoud Abbas on March 26, in Jordan. (Photo: AP)

Right after he landed in Amman, Jordan, Kerry met with Jordan's King Abdullah II and Palestinian President Mahmoud Abbas. He will meet with Israeli Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu in the next few days.
Kerry’s surprise visit to the Middle East follows the just-concluded Arab League Summit which issued a joint statement condemning Israel’s continued expansion of resettlements, the ‘Judaization’ of Jerusalem, and organized attacks against Muslims and Christians.
Kerry’s return to the Middle East is a response to the Palestinian threat to withdraw from the peace talks unless Israel releases Palestinian prisoners as promised by Saturday.