Israeli and Palestinian negotiators shook hands Tuesday to resume long-stalled direct peace talks that Secretary of State John Kerry said will seek to give birth to an independent Palestinian state nine months from now.
The goal is ambitious and the history of failed talks daunting, Kerry said, but the consequences of not trying are worse. The United States will be a "facilitator," he said, but he made clear that he will push both sides hard. He has already won concessions to get talks started after a lull lasting most of the past five years.
"Compromise doesn't only mean giving up something or giving something away; reasonable, principled compromise in the name of peace means that everybody stands to gain," Kerry said with the lead negotiators at his side. "Each side has a stake in the other's success, and everyone can benefit from the dividends of peace."
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