Netanyahu rebukes Kerry speech

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THE BUFFALO NEWS/THURSDA THE TRUMP TRANSITION Netanyahu rebukes Kerry speech great friend in the U.S., but ... ISRAEL • from Al He said rapidly increasing not anymore. The beginning of settlements - including 90,000 the end was the horrible Iran located east of a separation bor- trayed Israel's friendship.

"Some seem to believe that the U.S. friendship means that the U.S. must accept any pol- icy ... even after urging again and again that the policy must change," Kerry said. But "friends need to tell each other the hard truths." He said the U.S.

"has done more to support Israel than any other country," and noted the Obama administration has made unprecedented contribu- tions in both military intelli- gence and financial aid to Isra- el. But Kerry said Washington would have betrayed its own values if it did not try to revive a two-state solution.

An hour after Kerry finished talking, Israeli Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu lashed out at the American diplomat, accusing him of advancing the Security Council resolution and giving "a skewed speech against Israel." "For over an hour, Kerry dealt obsessively with the settle- ments and almost didn't touch on the root of the conflict - the Palestinian opposition to a Jew- ish state in any boundaries," Ne- tanyahu said.

Kerry's remarks will all but certainly exacerbate the al- ready strained relationship the Obama administration has had with Netanyahu. Obama and Netanyahu have never been close; tensions peaked with the 2015 Iran nuclear accord, struck between world powers and Teh- ran. Israel maintains the histor- ic deal is a threat to the Jewish deal, and now this (U.N.)!

Stay der that Israel itself established strong Israel, January 20th is - may not be the main driver of fast approaching!" Israeli-Palestinian tension. But Responding, Netanya- he accused Israel of continu- hu tweeted, "President-elect ing to build for ideological, not Trump, thank you for your security, purposes.

Doing so, warm friendship and your clear-cut support for Israel." He Kerry said, only serve only to maintain the one-state status also, for reasons that are not im- quo - said that appears to be mediately clear, tagged Trump's precisely their point. two eldest children, Donald Jr.

"Settlement expansions have and Ivanka. nothing to do with Israel's secu- A day earlier, Israeli officials pledged to reveal proof that the rity," Kerry said, adding that the outposts in the West Bank may United States was behind the in fact, endanger Israel. Security Council resolution that "How does that help Isra- condemned Israeli settlements el's security?

How does it help in Palestinian territory. Ker- the region? The answer is: It ry's speech came just hours af- doesn't," Kerry said. Instead, he ter Israel, reportedly under Ne- said, only a two-state solution tanyahu's instruction, delayed will bring peace and long-term approving hundreds of new homes in East Jerusalem. Ne- security for Israel.

Meanwhile, he said, Arab tanyahu has been criticized by leaders are committed to Israeli opposition leaders for the changing their policy toward deteriorating foreign relations Israel if a two-state solution be- and his reaction to the Security comes a reality. "It's waiting," he Council resolution. said.

"It's right there." Kerry repeated Washing- He repeated calls on both ton's denials that it drove the sides to commit to practical, U.N. vote, and rejected the no- tangible steps toward a two- tion that the U.S. abstention state solution, and to do so that isolated Israel.

That, he "without waiting for the other said, is Israeli policy's doing. side to act." Kerry also outlined In his defiant speech, Kerry principles that might present a said that while the two-state so- path for peace, many of which lution was supported in theory, were merely a reiteration of U.S. it has not been embraced.

And if it is jettisoned, "Israel can ei- policy and international law. Kerry made Middle East ther be Jewish, or democratic - peace a cornerstone of his time it cannot be both - and it won't as the nation's top diplomat. ever really be at peace," he said.

When he arrived in Foggy Bot- Kerry also had harsh words tom in 2013, he launched a nine- for unrest begun by Palestin- month effort to reach a "final ians, noting the Obama admin- status of the Israeli-Palestinian istration criticized their leaders conflict by the summer of 2014. for failing to condemn violence His efforts never got off the As he prepares to take office, Trump has offered a far friend- lier tone toward Israel.

He has pledged to move the U.S. Em- bassy in Israel from Tel Aviv to Jerusalem - which would infu- riate Palestinians who contest Israeli claims on the holy city. "We cannot continue to let Israel be treated with such total disdain and disrespect," Trump tweeted hours before Kerry's speech.

"They used to have a and terrorism. ground, despite multiple meet- But the focus of the speech ings with Netanyahu and Pales- was undoubtedly to rap Israel tinian National Authority Presi- for deterring a two-state solu- dent Mahmoud Abbas. tion.

Kerry characterized the Though his words were fiery, government Kerry is not alone in outlining as the most right-wing in the a way toward a potential peace. country's history, held hostage France plans to convene talks by the most extreme elements on Jan. 15 to establish a road- of Israeli politics.

Many mem- map for an improved situation bers of Netanyahu's coalition, between Palestinians and Isra- he noted, publicly reject a Pales- el. Israel, however, has repeat- tinian state. edly said that it will not attend.

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"Netanyahu rebukes Kerry speech," Buffalo News, 29 December 2016. Covering Palestine archive, CP-2016-010. https://coveringpalestine.org/archive/cp-2016-010