Israel, Palestinians press on with peace talks rescue bid

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* Gaps remain after latest mediation session, U.S. says * Kerry due to meet Obama, with troubled talks on agenda * U.S. trying to keep talks going beyond April 29 deadline (Adds comment by Palestinian U.N. envoy) By Jeffrey Heller JERUSALEM, April 8 (Reuters) - Israeli and Palestinian negotiators ended a**ther U.S.-mediated session on Tuesday with ** sign of a breakthrough in efforts to save peace talks from collapse, but an Israeli official said they had agreed to meet again. In a statement about the latest discussions, U.S. State Department spokeswoman Jen Psaki said: "Gaps remain, but both sides are committed to narrow the gaps." The U.S.-brokered negotiations, which began in July, plunged into crisis last week after Israel, demanding a Palestinian commitment to continue talking beyond an April 29 deadline for a peace deal, failed to carry out a promised release of about two dozen Palestinian prisoners. Palestinian President Mahmoud Abbas responded by signing 15 global treaties, including the Geneva Conventions on the conduct of war and occupations, on behalf of the State of Palestine, a defiant move that surprised Washington and angered Israel.

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