Secretary Of State Kerry Travels To Israel To Broker Peace Talks

06:54

January 02, 2014

US Secretary of State John Kerry steps off the plane upon his arrival at Ben Gurion Airport January 2, 2014 near Tel Aviv, Israel. Kerry traveled to the Mideast for talks with Israeli and Palestinian officials to finalize a framework to guide the final stages of a comprehensive Middle East peace agreement. (Brendan Smialowski/AFP/Getty Images)

At least one senior Israeli cabinet minister and more than a dozen right-leaning politicians poured cement at a West Bank construction site today — a statement of protest on the first day of Secretary of State John Kerry's visit to Israel to broker peace talks aimed at creating a two-state solution between Israelis and Palestinians.

Though Kerry has kept the outline of his proposals under wraps, Kerry is expected to push for Israel's withdrawal to its pre-1967 borders and a halt to new Israeli settlements.

Palestinians will be asked, among other things, to recognize Israel as a Jewish state.

Kerry is meeting in Jerusalem today with Israeli Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu, and tomorrow he'll travel to the West Bank to meet with Palestinian President Mahmoud Abbas.

Aaron David Miller, a Middle East expert, joins Here & Now’s Robin Young to discuss the negotiations.

Guest

Aaron David Miller, vice president for New Initiatives and a distinguished scholar at the Woodrow Wilson International Center for Scholars. He tweets @aarondmiller2.

This segment aired on January 2, 2014.