By Darrin Simmons
Impunity Watch Reporter, Middle East

AMMAN, Jordan – U.S. Secretary of State John Kerry made his sixth trip to the Middle East yesterday in order to resume peace talks between Israel and Palestine.  Since taking office on February 1^st, Kerry has made it his mission to negotiate peace in the Middle East.

It has been unofficially reported that countries represented at the peace negotiating meeting include Egypt, Lebanon, Jordan, Bahrain, Saudi Arabia, and Qatar.  Kerry met Palestinian President Mahmoud Abbas on Tuesday and today planned to meet Jordan’s King Abdullah II.

Jen Psaki, the U.S. State Department spokeswoman, said that Kerry scheduled the meetings to “provide an update on Middle East peace” and that “the Secretary would not be going back to the region if he did not feel there was an opportunity to keep making steps forward.”

Kerry has repeatedly stated that a point is nearing where Israeli and Palestinian officials will need “to make hard decisions about jump-starting the moribund peace talks.” The necessity of such a meeting is pressing as the United Nations General Assembly will address Palestinian statehood issues in September.

In June, Kerry spent nearly four days involved in extensive diplomacy working to end a three-year impasse between Israel and Palestine stating, “with a little more work, the start of final status negotiations could be within reach.”

Two advisers, Frank Lowenstein and Jonathan Schwartz, have been in the Middle East for the past couple of weeks to consult with both Israel and Palestine.  Remaining gaps to be resolved appear to be Israel’s failure to release Palestinian prisoners and refusal to agree to preconditions.

Kerry stated, “Through hard and deliberate, patient work, and most importantly through quiet work we have been able to narrow those gaps very significantly. We continue to get closer and I continue to remain hopeful that the sides will soon be able to come to sit at the same table.”

Palestine, who obtained “nonmember observer state” status in the U.N. last year, has made it clear that they will seek further recognition as a state and membership in the International Criminal Court if diplomatic progress is not made.

After the meeting, the Arab delegates issued a statement saying, “The Arab delegates believe Kerry’s ideas proposed to the committee today constitute a good ground and suitable environment for restarting the negotiations, especially the new and important political, economic and security elements.”

However, U.S. officials have reduced expectations that any sudden breakthrough or announcement on resuming direct Israel Palestine communication will occur as Kerry did not plan to visit Israel or Palestine on this trip.

For more information, please see the following: 

Aljazeera – Kerry to hold secret Middle East peace talks – July 17, 2013

Gulf Today – Kerry wins AL support for bid to restart ME peace talks – July 17, 2013

National – Kerry returns to Jordan for Mideast peace talks – July 17, 2013

New York Times – Kerry Returns to Middle East in Bid for Peace Talks – July 16, 2013

By Kathryn Maureen Ryan
Impunity Watch Desk Reporter, Middle East

CAIRO, Egypt – Thousands of supporters of ousted President Mohamed Morsi have rallied in the streets of Cairo and across the country, largely following Friday prayers beginning on July 6. Prior to the breakout of pro-Morsi protests, the Egyptian military had said that it will guarantee supporters of the Muslim Brotherhood and the overthrown president the right to peacefully protest and the right to free expression. However, this announcement came as the military had been rounding up Muslim Brotherhood officials.

Egyptian President Mohamed Morsi, the nation’s first democratically elected leader, was forcibly removed from office on Tuesday July 2. In the two weeks since his ouster, the streets of Egypt have been filled with both pro-Morsi and anti-Morsi protests. President Morsi’s removal from office followed days of mass protests, largely organized by the Tamarod [Rebel] movement. Protesters accused President Morsi and the Brotherhood of failing to address the country’s economic concerns, which were a catalyst to the 2011 revolution, as well as consolidating political power and supporting an overwhelmingly Islamist agenda without the support of the majority of the Egyptian people.

Egyptian judicial authorities have opened up and an investigation into accusations that former President Morsi and 15 other Islamists that had allegedly had insulted the judiciary. The investigating Judge Tharwat Hammad has imposed a travel banned on them all. Many of the senior leaders of the Muslim Brotherhood have been arrested are being held in Torah Prison in Cairo, the same prison housing deposed President Hosni Mubarak. Hundreds of Muslim Brotherhood officials have reportedly been arrested in since the coup.

While the ousting of Morsi was met with cheers of support from protesters in Tahrir Square and across Egypt, many of whom participated in the uprising that led to the resignation of Hosni Mubarak, the coup is a reminder of the historic power of the Egyptian military complex, which has at the heart of the Mubarak regime. The Coup has left many Egyptian holding their breath as Egypt’s future hangs in the balance.

The Military issued statements promising to allow for a peaceful transition to democracy after the establishment of a transitional government. Chief Justice Adly Mansour was sworn in as Egypt’s interim president, just hours after Mohamed Morsi was forced out of office in a military coup that occurred as a result of massive protests against his presidency.Under the transitional government, the nation’s constitution will be temporarily suspended, a “strong and competent” civilian Technocratic government will be installed though the transition processes and the Supreme Court is expected to pass a law setting standards for a parliamentary election and to prepare for both parliamentary and presidential elections.

Despite the military’s roundup of Muslim Brotherhood officials the interim president has promised to preserve the right to free expression in Egypt. He has said that the freedom to protest and to publicly express political beliefs is at the heart of the new Egypt, a right won on the streets of Cairo in 2011. However, in the weeks since that statement was made, Egyptian police forces have clashed on the streets with pro-Morsi demonstrators leaving several demonstrators dead, including seven protesters who were killed overnight in Cairo during a pro-Morsi rally that resulted in clashes with police forces. The killings came as US Deputy Secretary of State William Burns visited Egypt, marking the first time a high ranking US official to visit the region since the Coup.

For further information, please see:

Al Jazeera – Seven Dead in Cairo Clashes – 16 July 2013

CNN International – Deadly Clashes Strike Egypt as New Government Takes Shape – 16 July 2013

Al Jazeera – Living in Denial: US Policy & Egypt’s Military Coup – July 15, 2013

Al Jazeera – Pro-Morsi Supporters Stage Cairo Protest – 5 July 2013

Al Jazzera – Top Judge Sworn In as Egypt’s Interim President –5 July 2013

BBC – Egypt Army Permits ‘Peaceful Protest’ Amid Morsi Anger – 5 July 2013

CNN International – Morsy Supporters to Protest His Ouster, Arrests of His Allies – July 5, 2013

CNN International – Coup Highlights Egyptian’s Military Role – July 3, 2013