U.S. Secretary of State John Kerry returns to the region for his fourth trip since undertaking campaign to jumpstart Israeli-Palestinian talks.

After many murky months, Yair Lapid's true stance is finally becoming clear; it appears the man who inherited Israel's political center is about to bury the idea of a two-state solution, once and for all.

As his recent interview in The New York Times shows, Finance Minister Yair Lapid knows how to sell himself as everything to everyone, but his brand is wearing thin.

While Minister Livni said at the Foreign Affairs and Defense Committee that the government's goal is to restart negotiations, other coalition members insisted a two-state solution was never an official government position.

In unusual move, U.S. Secretary of State John Kerry phones Israeli ambassador to the U.S. Michael Oren to demand explanations, voice protest.

Justice Minister says Yair Lapid's remarks on Israeli-Palestinian negotiations do not coincide with his party's prior election promises, do not further peace talks.

Saeb Erekat says Palestinian waiting to push to join international bodies in order to give Obama and Kerry opportunity to push forward peace efforts; Kerry due to visit Jerusalem and Ramallah on Thursday and Friday.

The Secretary of State's weeklong trip will also see him try to advance his two-month effort to restart peace talks between Israel and the Palestinians.

The territorial exchanges Israel once offered the Palestinians in return for peace were never obligatory and are no longer practical.

In interview with The New York Times, Yair Lapid addresses Israeli-Palestinian negotiations for first time since being instated as finance minister; suggests Abbas isn't partner for peace and says he hopes to succeed Netanyahu but he is in 'no hurry.'