JERUSALEM

Secretary of State John Kerry is currently holding talks with Israeli Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu, their second meeting in less than 24 hours, Israeli Channel 10 reported on Tuesday.

This came only a few hours after a late-night meeting between Kerry and chief Palestinian negotiator Saeb Erekat.

Kerry arrived in Israel on Monday in what observers described as a last-ditch attempt to shore up U.S.-sponsored peace talks between the two sides, originally scheduled to end on April 29.

A planned Monday meeting between Kerry and Palestinian Authority President Mahmoud was rescheduled to Tuesday.

According to Israeli media, the meeting was rescheduled after Kerry's talks with Netanyahu ran into almost four hours.

According to Israel Radio, Kerry is expected to pile pressures on the Palestinian Authority to extend the peace talks by six months.

The talks hit a snag after Israel failed to fulfill an earlier promise to free a fourth batch of Palestinian prisoners on Saturday.

Under a U.S.-brokered deal, Israel had promised to release 104 prisoners detained since before the signing of the 1993 Oslo peace accords.

Israel has already freed 78 prisoners in three phases.

A fourth group of prisoners had been due for release on Saturday, but this never materialized.

U.S.-brokered talks between Israeli and Palestinian negotiators resumed in Washington last summer after a nearly three-year hiatus.

During a January visit to the region, Kerry presented both sides with a proposed framework for an eventual deal that addresses the fundamental issues of the borders, security, the fate of Palestinian refugees and the status of Al-Quds (occupied East Jerusalem).

Kerry cancels planned meeting with Abbas

U.S. Secretary of State John Kerry has cancelled a planned Monday meeting with Palestinian Authority President Mahmoud, sources in the Palestinian Presidency said.

It remains unclear why the meeting was cancelled.

Israeli media, however, attributed the move to the long meeting between Kerry and Israeli Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu.

Kerry arrived in Israel on Monday for talks with officials in both Israel and the Palestinian territories.

According to Israel Radio, Kerry is expected to pile pressures on the Palestinian Authority to extend the talks by six months.

Kerry cut short his visit to Rome last week to meet with Palestinian President Mahmoud Abbas in Amman to try to convince the latter to extend the ongoing talks beyond the April deadline.

On Saturday, Israel failed to fulfill an earlier promise to free a fourth batch of Palestinian prisoners.

"There won't be any deal without Israel knowing clearly what it will get in exchange," Israeli Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu said later.

According to Israeli media reports, the Israeli government has proposed the release of 1000 additional Palestinian detainees in return for extending the negotiation deadline.

Under a U.S.-brokered deal, Israel had promised to release 104 prisoners held in Israeli jails since before the signing of the 1993 Oslo peace accords. In return, Palestinian negotiators promised not to push for statehood at the United Nations.

englishnews@aa.com.tr