In Mideast, Kerry Plays Down Pessimism on Peace Secretary of State John Kerry, left, met with Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu of Israel on Thursday in Jerusalem. JERUSALEM - As he embarked on another round of meetings with Israeli and Palestinian leaders on Thursday in an effort to revitalize the peace process, Secretary of State John Kerry acknowledged the doubts being expressed on both sides over his chances of success. I know this region well enough to know that there is skepticism; in some corridors, there's cynicism. And there are reasons for it. There have been bitter years of disappointment," he said, before meeting here with Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu. But he added, "It is our hope that by being methodical, careful, patient, but detailed and tenacious, that we can lay out a path ahead that could conceivably surprise people, but certainly exhaust the possibilities of peace." Mr. Kerry then traveled to Ramallah in the West Bank to meet with the president of the Palestinian Authority, Mahmoud Abbas. They discussed "their shared commitment to the peace effort and the best path moving forward," according to an official statement. It added that Mr. Kerry also updated Mr. Abbas on his initiative to strengthen the Palestinian economy. Palestinian officials have said that they expect Mr. Kerry to present a proposal for restarting Israeli-Palestinian peace talks by early June. But ahead of Mr. Kerry's visit - his fourth to the area in eight weeks - one Palestinian official, speaking on the condition of anonymity in accordance with diplomatic protocol, said there were still no indications that Israel was prepared to meet the requirements that the Palestinians had insisted on to resume the long-stalled negotiations. "I would prefer to say I am hopeful, even though I have nothing to base that hope on," the official said. Israeli officials have also been quick to express their support for Mr. Kerry's efforts while indicating that they are not convinced that the Palestinians want to return to the negotiating table. Before their meeting, Mr. Netanyahu said of the attempt to resume peace talks, "It's something I want. It's something you want. It's something I hope the Palestinians want as well. And we ought to be successful for a simple reason: When there's a will, we'll find a way. Tzipi Livni, Israel's minister of justice and chief negotiator on the Palestinian issue, said on Thursday that Israel had a clear interest in advancing the process. In an interview on Israel Radio, she acknowledged differences within the Israeli government. One coalition member, the right-wing Jewish Home Party, rejects the idea of a Palestinian state. But Ms. Livni said that Mr. Netanyahu was a full partner in Mr. Kerry's effort. Those close to the talks have maintained strict discretion about the details. A senior Israeli official, who also spoke on the condition of anonymity because of the continuing diplomacy, said Mr. Kerry was discussing specific ideas about how to get back to negotiations. He has maintained close contact with the sides since his last visit, speaking every couple of days by phone with Mr. Netanyahu, according to the same Israeli official, speaking on Wednesday ahead of Mr. Kerry's visit. Saeb Erekat, the chief Palestinian negotiator, has said he and Mr. Abbas, the president of the Palestinian Authority, have been speaking with Mr. Kerry by phone almost weekly.