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.