Israel

Robert Serry, U.N. special coordinator for the Middle East peace process, told the Security Council that “rapid progress is vital in light of multiple challenges” with regard to the Israeli-Palestinian peace talks. Serry emphasized that core issues – “Jerusalem, the refugee issue, security” – must be addressed by both parties. Meanwhile, Israeli Ambassador to the U.S. Michael Oren and Organization of American States Secretary General Jose Miguel Insulza forged a memorandum of understanding last May 17 to bolster decades of development cooperation between Israel and OAS.