Israeli Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu has strongly criticized what he called US Secretary of State John Kerry’s “unbalanced” speech on Israel-Palestine.
Speaking earlier on Wednesday, Kerry had used strong language to warn that “the two-state solution is now in serious jeopardy,” blaming continued settlement construction in the West Bank.
“We cannot, in good conscience, do nothing, and say nothing, when we see the hope of peace slipping away,” Kerry said in a 70-minute address.
Netanyahu was quick to attack Kerry’s statement, which in his words “obsessively dealt with settlements”.
The Israeli leader claimed instead that the real problem is the Palestinian refusal to recognize Israel’s right to exist as a Jewish state, expressing regret “that Secretary Kerry does not see this simple truth.”
He accused Kerry of paying "lip service to the unremitting campaign of terrorism" waged by Palestinians against Israel.
Netanyahu also took the opportunity to once again condemn Friday’s UN resolution calling for an end to settlement activity.
He added that “Israel looks forward to working with President-elect Trump and with the American Congress, Democrats and Republicans alike, to mitigate the damage that this resolution has done and ultimately, to repeal it.”
Trump himself used Twitter to express displeasure with Kerry’s words, hinting that his administration will take a different approach on Israel.
We cannot continue to let Israel be treated with such total disdain and disrespect. They used to have a great friend in the U.S., but.......
— Donald J. Trump (@realDonaldTrump) December 28, 2016
not anymore. The beginning of the end was the horrible Iran deal, and now this (U.N.)! Stay strong Israel, January 20th is fast approaching!
— Donald J. Trump (@realDonaldTrump) December 28, 2016
Despite the 38 billion dollars in American military assistance to Israel which was agreed last year, the Obama administration has on several occasions clashed with Netanyahu over settlement building, and the Iran nuclear deal. Last week’s resolution, which Netanyahu accuses the US of orchestrating, was widely seen as Obama’s “parting shot” to America's once unfaltering ally.
Netanyahu's response can be watched here.
RA
