Israel rejects 1967 borders plea, says deputy FM
Israel’s deputy foreign minister Ze'ev Elkin said that Israel would not accept any peace deal with the Palestinians that mentioned the 1967 borders and the release of the recently annexed Jordan Valley.
Elkin told Israeli radio on Thursday: "Israel has to refuse any American framework agreement if it includes the issue of the 1967 borders, or if it does not approve Israeli sovereignty over the Jordan Valley."
He also added: "It is good to have negotiations going on, but it is important that they do not cost Israel an existential price."
US Secretary of State John Kerry arrived in Israel on Thursday afternoon to meet with Israeli Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu and Palestinian Authority president Mahmoud Abbas in the hope of reviving deadlocked peace talks.
Although as part of the ongoing talks Israel has released dozens of Palestinians prisoners from Israeli jails, Israel has increased its illegal settlement activity in the West Bank and arrested scores of Palestinians in scuffles, putting talks into doubt. If the talks fail, many commentators have warned of a third Palestinian intifada.