Netanyahu cool to Arab initiative

JERUSALEM (AP) — Israel’s prime minister on Wednesday gave a cool reception to a renewed peace offer from the Arab world, in a fresh sign of trouble for U.S. efforts to restart Mideast peace talks.

With Secretary of State John Kerry expected to return to the region next week as part of his mission to resume Israeli-Palestinian negotiations, neither side seems to be yielding ground. Kerry has indicated that his patience is wearing thin and that he may turn his focus elsewhere if his efforts do not yield results.