President Mahmoud Abbas Tuesday received US Secretary of State John Kerry in the presidential headquarter in the city of Ramallah and discussed efforts to restore trust in the two-state solution. Presidency Spokesperson Nabil Abu Rudaina said the meeting lasted for two hours. "It was lengthy and all issues presented by the Palestinian side in New York and Amman with Kerry were discussed during this meeting in depth." Abbas affirmed Palestinians' clear and firm position, which supports an independent Palestinian state with East Jerusalem as its capital and the need to release the pre-Oslo fourth batch of prisoners. Meanwhile, Kerry affirmed his country's position, which supports a two-state solution. Kerry told reporters after the meeting, he had arrived in Ramallah at the request of US President Barack Obama in order to see what can be done to contribute to and restore people's trust in the two-state solution. He stressed that Obama administration and the United States will continue to work as much as possible to achieve this goal. Meanwhile, Chief Palestinian Negotiator Saeb Erekat said Kerry stressed the US administration's commitment to a two-state solution based on the 1967 borders and efforts to calm the situation. Erekat said Abbas handed the US diplomatic delegation five files which reviewed the cases of; "95 Palestinians who were killed by the Israeli army and settlers, collective punishments and house demolitions, 36 bodies withheld by Israel, settlement activities which have risen by 40%. Abbas also handed Kerry a file on incitement by Israel against the Palestinian people and leadership, Erekat said.
