Israeli Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu and U.S. Secretary of State John Kerry met in Rome on Monday (image from an earlier meeting). Photo: Wikimedia Commons.

AP – US Secretary of State John Kerry on Tuesday outlined America’s opposition to any effort undermining Israel’s election process, holding out hope the US and its partners could find a way to advance Middle East peace and respond to the concerns of Palestinians.

Kerry wouldn’t categorize America’s position on suggestions for the UN Security Council to set a framework for negotiations, which Israel fiercely opposes. But he emphasized the importance of nations avoiding anything that interferes or “might be perceived as interfering” in Israeli elections planned for March. The priorities, he said, should be to halt growing Israeli-Palestinian violence and create conditions for an eventual resumption of peace talks.

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