It was a day filled with diplomacy for Secretary of State John Kerry - in this case - Middle East Shuttle Diplomacy. There was a meeting with Palestinian President Mahmoud Abbas in Jordan -- which was followed by handshakes with Benjamin Netanyahu in Jerusalem --- Kerry's second conversatin with Israeli Prime Minister in as many days.

The stepped up pace suggests a hope to restart peace talks

Direct negotiations broke down in late 2010 over Israel's settlements in the occupied West Bank and East Jerusalem. Abbas h as insisted that construction in the settlements, viewed as illegal by most world powers, be stopped before talks can resume.

Kerry hasn't said much about his plan to bring the sides together, but says he wouldn't have returned to the area if he didn't believe there could be progress.