Kerry to see Israeli envoys in push for peace deal

MATTHEW LEE

WASHINGTON (AP) — Secretary of State John Kerry is to meet with Israel's top negotiators as he steps up his push get Israel and the Palestinians to agree to a framework for an elusive peace deal that would end their long-running conflict.

The State Department said Kerry and U.S. special Mideast peace envoy Martin Indyk would meet later Monday in Washington with Israel's Justice Minister Tzipi Livni and Yitzhak Molcho, a top aide to Israeli Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu. A Palestinian delegation is expected in Washington next week for similar consultations, the department said in a brief statement.

Kerry is trying to get the two sides to agree to the outline of a final agreement that the two sides have set a May target to reach.