Israel’s PM slams US Secretary of State’s speech

[webfact]

Israel’s PM slams US Secretary of State’s speech

 

 

JERUSALEM: -- Israel’s prime minister Benjamin Netanyahu has denounced a speech by US Secretary of State John Kerry which said illegal settlement building is holding back peace.

 

Kerry also said that, rather than aiming for an internationally agreed two state solution, Israel is instead moving towards a one state reality.

 

“I must express my deep disappointment with the speech today of John Kerry. The speech that was as almost unbalanced as the anti-Israel resolution that passed last week,” Netanyahu said.

 

He added that Israel did not need to be lectured to by foreign leaders and looked forward to working with incoming President-elect Donald Trump, who has vowed to pursue more pro-Israeli policies.

 

In a 70-minute speech with mere weeks left in his tenure, Kerry said Israel “will never have true peace” with the Arab world if it does not reach an accord based on Israelis and Palestinians living in their own states.

 

Kerry’s remarks, and Netanyahu’s reply, marked the closing chapter of an increasingly bitter U.S.-Israeli relationship during President Barack Obama’s administration over differences on settlement-building and the Iran nuclear deal signed last year.

 

Ties reached a low point last week when Washington cleared the way for a U.N. resolution that demanded an end to Israeli settlement building, prompting Israeli government officials to direct harsh attacks against Obama and Kerry whom they insisted had orchestrated the resolution.

 

Israel’s illegal settlements

 

Illegal settlement building continues in east Jerusalem which Israel occupied in 1967.

 

But there are signs that last week’s UN vote demanding an end to settlement building has put pressure on Israel.

 

Jerusalem’s City Hall cancelled a vote on applications to build nearly 500 homes for Israelis in East Jerusalem just before Kerry made his speech.

 

 

-- © Copyright Euronews 2016-12-29

[craigt3365]

Quote

He added that Israel did not need to be lectured to by foreign leaders

 

True in reverse.  The US does not need to be chided by foreign leaders either.  Cuts both ways.

[dexterm]

Kerry's speech was absolutely spot on.

 

With Netanyahu as engineer, Trump as fireman, and Kerry in the caboose (trying belatedly to apply brakes) out of control right wing dominated Israel is heading for a one state solution.

 

And as Kerry said in his speech:
"So the settler agenda is defining the future in Israel. And their stated purpose is clear: They believe in one state: greater Israel. In fact, one prominent minister who heads a pro-settler party declared just after the U.S. election that “the era of the two state solution is over,” and many other coalition ministers publicly reject a Palestinian state. " http://www.haaretz.com/israel-news/1.761881

 

And more to the point the elephant in the room question that no-one seems willing to address, but which Trump will very soon have to tackle, creating his first self inflicted headache. What to do with 2.8 million Palestinians that a one state solution would immediately encompass? And another 3 to 7 million in the diaspora?

 

"But here is a fundamental reality: If the choice is one state, Israel can either be Jewish or democratic - it cannot be both - and it won't ever really be at peace."

http://www.aljazeera.com/news/2016/12/israel-palestine-peace-solution-jeopardy-161228164553383.html

 

If Netanyahu thought the Palestinian issue had been put on the back burner, Kerry and Trump are certainly highlighting the fact that the Palestinian conflict has not gone away.

 

Trump, like a bull in a china shop will ensure it remains a focus of world attention.

[daveAustin]

Israel is like a damaged kid with borderline personality disorder that cannot be criticised or see logic. Mr Binjamin Nutandyahoo will be like two peas in a pod with el Trumpo.

[pkspeaker]

Israel has 'peace'.  when was the last time a single israeli was killed by a palestinian militant?   few and  far between.. and when it does happen it is from a lone wolf frustrated palestinian, not part of a broader militant group that orders such attacks.. the attacks that have taken place are with kitchen knives! this is despite the fact that 4 million palestinians are hemmed into disconected bantustans that together comprise less than 10% of the overall territory - israel/palestine.  So israelis have freedom of movement in that entire area, appox 90% continuous and palestinians can hardly leave the small mostly run down built up area's that they are walled into.  It's peace and apartheid and NO sanctions + 40 billions $s in foreign aid, and yet the israelis still bitch endlessly because they think the world is here to serve them, they rule the USA-dictating that it fight wars like Iraq and we have to give them money all the time, AND they don't want any back-talk; we must follow their orders with a smile on our face while we serve them.

Edited December 29, 2016 by pkspeaker

[Ulysses G.]

15 minutes ago, pkspeaker said:

Israel has 'peace'.  when was the last time a single israeli was killed by a palestinian militant?   

 

I happens too frequently - with rockets, guns and knives. Too many Palestinians praise these terrorists. Netanyahu is justified in condemning Kerry's speech.

 

http://www.jewishvirtuallibrary.org/jsource/History/casualtiestotal.html

[craigt3365]

12 minutes ago, Ulysses G. said:

 

I happens too frequently - with rockets, guns and knives. Too many Palestinians praise these terrorists. Netanyahu is justified in condemning Kerry's speech.

 

http://www.jewishvirtuallibrary.org/jsource/History/casualtiestotal.html

Perhaps there's a reason they are fighting back:

https://www.theguardian.com/world/2015/mar/27/israel-kills-more-palestinians-2014-than-any-other-year-since-1967

 

Quote

 

Israel killed more Palestinians in 2014 than in any other year since 1967

More than 2,300 Palestinians killed and more than 17,000 injured, according to annual report by UN Office for the Coordination of Humanitarian Affairs

 

 

[Ulysses G.]

Maybe tne Palestinians should not have started the violence in the first place and continued it for the last 100 years.  It has not served them well. THAT is why Israel keeps fighting and why PM Netanyahu is so outraged about Kerry's self serving speech 

Edited December 29, 2016 by Ulysses G.

[craigt3365]

11 minutes ago, Ulysses G. said:

Maybe tne Palestinians should not have started the violence in the first place and continued it for the last 100 years.  It has not served them well. THAT is why Israel keeps fighting and why PM Netanyahu is so outraged about Kerry's self serving speech 

So you admit Israel is killing more Palestinians than they are killing Israelis?  If so, Kerry's speech is spot on.  Time to stop the nonsense.  Or perhaps reduce the foreign aid.  LOL

[Ulysses G.]

America is killing more ISIS than they are killing us. Does that make them right? Your assertion makes no sense.

 

 

3 minutes ago, craigt3365 said:

So you admit Israel is killing more Palestinians than they are killing Israelis? 

 

Edited December 29, 2016 by Ulysses G.

[ezzra]

 

News flesh... Palestine will NOT be come to be, and the Palestinians WILL NOT have their own country one minute before Israel will decide on it and when Israel will feel that they're absolutely safe in allowing them to have a country, Not Kerry, not Obama, Not anybody will decide for Israel how to protect itself...

So let all the talking heads talk and hate and preach to Israel what to do, It will not matter....

[craigt3365]

10 minutes ago, Ulysses G. said:

America is killing more ISIS than they are killing us. Does that make them right? Your assertion makes no sense.

This has nothing to do with ISIS.  Stick to the topic.

[craigt3365]

Interesting info here.  I've never read up on this issue before.  Just know it's one of the biggest problems in the ME.  One of.  And needs to be addressed.

 

http://ifamericansknew.org/

Quote

 

The Israeli-Palestinian conflict is one of the world's major sources of instability. Americans are directly connected to this conflict, and increasingly imperiled by its devastation.

It is the goal of If Americans Knew to provide full and accurate information on this critical issue, and on our power – and duty – to bring a resolution.

 

 

[craigt3365]

12 minutes ago, ezzra said:

 

News flesh... Palestine will NOT be come to be, and the Palestinians WILL NOT

have their own country one minute before Israel will decide on it and when Israel

will feel that they're absolutely safe in allowing them to have a country,

Not Kerry, not Obama, Not anybody will decide for Israel how to protect itself...

So let all the talking heads talk and hate and preach to Israel what to do,

It will not matter....

Makes sense.  Then let's have the US give the same amount of aid to Israel and Palestine.  Equal equal.  I think it'd be good if the US disassociated itself a bit from this mess.

[Ulysses G.]

4 minutes ago, craigt3365 said:

Interesting info here.  I've never read up on this issue before.  Just know it's one of the biggest problems in the ME.  One of.  And needs to be addressed.

 

http://ifamericansknew.org/

 

 

The ADL calls this group an anti-Israel organization whose critisisms have tossed the line into anti-Semitism. Do not look to them for fair commentary.

[Ulysses G.]

17 minutes ago, craigt3365 said:

Makes sense.  Then let's have the US give the same amount of aid to Israel and Palestine.  Equal equal. 

 

You are suggesting the US give military aid to Islamic extremists? We help Israel militarily because they help us with intelligence and with technology and are on our side.

Edited December 29, 2016 by Ulysses G.

[craigt3365]

1 minute ago, Ulysses G. said:

 

You are suggesting the US give military aid to Islamic extremists? We help Israel militarily because they help us with internet and tecknology and are on our side.

Perhaps defusing the situation would help them to get rid of the extremists?

[craigt3365]

5 minutes ago, Ulysses G. said:

 

The ADL calls this group an anti-Israel organization whose critisisms have tossed the line into anti-Semitism. Do not look to them for fair commentary.

Perhaps.  But is what they are posting incorrect?

[IMA_FARANG]

I am not  a Trump supporter.

In fct, far from it.  But i do agree that Israel has been coasting on the U.S good will for to many years now.

It is time Israel went out on it's own.  They are grown now, and Mommy doesn't have to do everything for them.  Time for them to do it for themselves.  Grow up Israel and deal wirh your own neignbors, one way or the other.

 

[Ulysses G.]

9 minutes ago, craigt3365 said:

Perhaps.  But is what they are posting incorrect?

 

Much of it yes. 

[IMA_FARANG]

Isreal helped the U. S. in the Gulf war by suppling the "Marine Mammal Program" for the U.S. Navy (Dolphins for mine searching in Iraqui waters).

in return for this as Israel's P.M. knows very well.

The "quid Pro Quo" for this support and anti-missle technology from Israel was political support for Israrli settlement support from the U.S.

Both coubtries politicians new this.

 

[craigt3365]

10 minutes ago, Ulysses G. said:

 

Much of it yes. 

Specifics, please.

[Ulysses G.]

15 minutes ago, craigt3365 said:

Specifics, please.

 

Start with the VERY one sided "history" section. They present the USS Liberty incident as conclusive - that Israel did it on purpose - when numerous American agencies, Congressional inquiries and an Israeli court inquiry found absolutely no proof that the attack was other than an accident. They mention none of that at all.

 There is plenty of this kind of single sided and purposeful misinformation on the site. It is in NO WAY a reliable source.

Edited December 29, 2016 by Ulysses G.

[abrahamzvi]

2 hours ago, dexterm said:

Kerry's speech was absolutely spot on.

 

With Netanyahu as engineer, Trump as fireman, and Kerry in the caboose (trying belatedly to apply brakes) out of control right wing dominated Israel is heading for a one state solution.

 

And as Kerry said in his speech:
"So the settler agenda is defining the future in Israel. And their stated purpose is clear: They believe in one state: greater Israel. In fact, one prominent minister who heads a pro-settler party declared just after the U.S. election that “the era of the two state solution is over,” and many other coalition ministers publicly reject a Palestinian state. " http://www.haaretz.com/israel-news/1.761881

 

And more to the point the elephant in the room question that no-one seems willing to address, but which Trump will very soon have to tackle, creating his first self inflicted headache. What to do with 2.8 million Palestinians that a one state solution would immediately encompass? And another 3 to 7 million in the diaspora?

 

"But here is a fundamental reality: If the choice is one state, Israel can either be Jewish or democratic - it cannot be both - and it won't ever really be at peace."

http://www.aljazeera.com/news/2016/12/israel-palestine-peace-solution-jeopardy-161228164553383.html

 

If Netanyahu thought the Palestinian issue had been put on the back burner, Kerry and Trump are certainly highlighting the fact that the Palestinian conflict has not gone away.

 

Trump, like a bull in a china shop will ensure it remains a focus of world attention.

The crafty Right wing Israeli government is apparently cooking a plan, according to which any Jew worldwide could become an Israeli citizen and automatically get a vote, whilst still maintaining his residence, wherever he lives. They hope that by such tricks they can have the cake and eat it - have a greater Israel with a Jewish majority, even if they are unwillingly forced to grant citizenship to the Palestinian residents of the annexed territories. This plan could backfire, but who knows.....

[deathmule]

45 minutes ago, Ulysses G. said:

 

The ADL calls this group an anti-Israel organization whose critisisms have tossed the line into anti-Semitism. Do not look to them for fair commentary.

 

ADL is a joke and is a Jewish organization with Israeli interests

[Cook my sock]

I remember a documentary on Palestine families on their own land for many generations being visited by Hasidic Jews and having their very old beautiful olive trees trampled and destroyed. The soldiers did nothing. Dreadful people

[Ulysses G.]

1 minute ago, Cook my sock said:

I remember a documentary on Palestine families on their own land for many generations being visited by Hasidic Jews and having their very old beautiful olive trees trampled and destroyed. The soldiers did nothing. Dreadful people

 

Sad, but Palestinians did the same thing to Jews in numerous cases.

[Ulysses G.]

5 minutes ago, deathmule said:

 

ADL is a joke and is a Jewish organization with Israeli interests

 

 Lots of people who hate Israel and who hate Jews agree.

[craigt3365]

7 minutes ago, Ulysses G. said:

 

Start with the VERY one sided "history" section. They present the USS Liberty incident as conclusive - that Israel did it on purpose - when numerous American agencies, Congressional inquiries and an Israeli court inquiry found absolutely no proof that the attack was other than an accident. They mention none of that at all.

 There is plenty of this kind of single sided and purposeful misinformation on the site. It is in NO WAY a reliable source.

What about the stats and the graphs.  Are they inaccurate?

 

As far as the Liberty, there seems to be 2 sides to this.  Not all agree it was a mistake.

https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/USS_Liberty_incident

Quote

Israel apologized for the attack, saying that the USS Liberty had been attacked in error after being mistaken for an Egyptian ship.^[6] Both the Israeli and U.S. governments conducted inquiries and issued reports that concluded the attack was a mistake due to Israeli confusion about the ship's identity,^[2] though others, including survivors of the attack, have rejected these conclusions and maintain that the attack was deliberate.^[7]

 

So, I don't see how their positioning on this makes the info they present as incorrect.  Biased?  Probably. Just like the links you give.  Biased.

[up-country_sinclair]

2 minutes ago, Ulysses G. said:

 Lots of people who hate Israel and who hate Jews agree.

 

Well, that didn't take long.