Kerry holds surprise meeting with Palestinian leader Abbas

Secretary of State John Kerry met with Palestinian leader Mahmoud Abbas on Monday to discuss the prospects for resuming peace talks with Israel, ahead of President Obama's trip to the region.

The last-minute, unscheduled lunch meeting took place on the margins of Kerry's visit to Saudi Arabia, Haaretz reports. Abbas may have scheduled his trip to the kingdom in order to be there at the same time as Kerry.

The State Department had initially discussed having Kerry travel to Israel as part of his maiden trip as secretary of State, but the White House decided he should travel alongside Obama when he visits Israel, the West Bank and Jordan later this month.

Kerry has said he wants to make reinvigorating the stalled peace process a major focus of his term.

He was in Saudi Arabia mainly to discuss the crisis in Syria and Iran's alleged nuclear program.

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