Israeli delegation arrives in Washington to discuss amendment of the Arab League initiative

The Israeli Minister of Justice, Tzipi Livni, and the Israeli Prime Minister’s special envoy Isaac Molcho arrived in Washington for a quick visit – that actually lasted for several hours – to meet US Secretary of State John Kerry.

The Israeli newspaper Haaretz reported on Thursday that the visit came against the backdrop of Israeli Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu’s reservations about modifying the Arab Peace Initiative with regard to the borders of the Palestinian state.

The newspaper added that the meeting will focus on the US’s steps to stimulate the ‘peace process’, and quoted an Israeli official as saying that Livni had met, on Wednesday afternoon, in the Knesset with Netanyahu to coordinate messages to be delivered to Kerry.

Upon finishing the talks in Washington, Livni will head to New York to meet with the United Nations Secretary General Ban Ki-moon.

The Israeli official said that Livni and Molcho will ask Kerry to clarify his position on the Arab League’s plan, and the renewal of negotiations between the Israelis and the Palestinians. They will also present Kerry with Israel’s reservations about the Arab initiative.

The newspaper reported earlier on Thursday morning that Netanyahu and his advisers feared Kerry would accept the Arab League’s “definition of the borders for a Palestinian state and the principle of territorial exchanges.”

According to Netanyahu and his advisers, the Arab League’s announcement could prejudice Israel’s position in any future negotiations with the Palestinian Authority.