Secretary Kerry: Mideast peace talks need 'reality check'

RABAT, Morocco, April 4 (UPI) -- U.S. Secretary of State John Kerry said Friday that it's time to reevaluate the progress of the Mideast peace talks to determine its future.

Speaking from Rabat, Morocco, the secretary of state told reporters, "We are going to evaluate very carefully exactly where this is and where it might possibly be able to go." And he acknowledged, "There are limits to the amount of time and effort that the U.S. can spend if the parties themselves are unable to take constructive steps."

Kerry has been engaged in shuttle diplomacy for almost 14 months in an attempt to bring together Israeli Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu and Palestinian Authority President Mahmoud Abbas for peace talks.

With the April 29 deadline for securing a peal deal looming, Kerry admitted Friday that it was time for a "reality check."

On Thursday, Israel announced it was canceling the release of Palestinian prisoners -- previously agreed to in the peace talks -- because the Palestinian Authority had violated the terms of the deal by seeking UN recognition.

[Wall Street Journal]