TEL AVIV, Israel, April 16 (UPI) -- Peace talks between Israeli and Palestinian negotiators were postponed Wednesday, with no reason officially stated.
A spokesman for Palestinian Authority President Mahmoud Abbas said that peace talks would resume Thursday.
On Tuesday, U.S. Department of State spokesperson Jen Psaki commented on the peace talks and the possibility of the parties choosing to extend them beyond the April 29 deadline.
"The parties are working right now on an agreement to extend the negotiations. And that means extending the negotiations past April 29th. There are naturally a range of issues being discussed. There are steps that both parties would need to take in order to improve the conditions for peace. But the parties remain highly engaged. Both parties tell us they want negotiations to continue and they’re searching for a path to do just that."
Tensions spiked this week after a Jewish police officer was killed on Monday, the eve of Passover, by a Palestinian gunman. The Israeli man was driving with his family and young son when the gunman opened fire.
The State Department condemned the shooting and urged "all parties to exercise restraint and avoid any actions that would raise tensions."
[BBC] [State Department] [The Jerusalem Post]
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