Rep. Mike Rogers: It Will Be a ‘Serious Mistake’ for Kerry to Release Israeli Spy Early

‘It weakens the position of the United States ... it relates two issues that should not be related’

Release of Israeli spy could spur broader deal as Kerry detours to Mideast in bid to save talks (The Washington Post)

The potential release by the United States of a convicted Israeli spy could become the linchpin for a broader deal that would keep Israeli-Palestinian peace talks underway at least through 2015, breaking a stalemate that has threatened to derail negotiations overseen by Secretary of State John F. Kerry.

An official familiar with the talks said negotiators are discussing in broad outline a plan that would require Israel to slow settlement construction and release hundreds of Palestinian prisoners. The Palestinians would in turn agree not to pursue recognition of a Palestinian state or other redress through the United Nations in order to keep alive the hope for a solution negotiated between the two sides.

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