John Kerry’s first overseas trip as head of the State Department will include several stops in Europe and the Middle East but the secretary of state will notably not visit Israel or the Palestinian territories during his travels, the Associated Press reported Tuesday.
From the AP:
Kerry’s maiden voyage begins Sunday. He will visit close U.S. allies and partners in Britain, Germany, France, Italy, Turkey, Egypt, Saudi Arabia, United Arab Emirates and Qatar. His diplomacy will focus on the conflicts in Mali, Syria and Afghanistan, State Department spokeswoman Victoria Nuland said.
But there will be no stops in Israel or the Palestinian territories, which together have formed an epicenter of American diplomatic efforts over the past six decades.
