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Robert Fisk: Any other statesman who negotiated peace like John Kerry would be treated as a thief
Has John Kerry no shame? First he cuddles up to both Palestinians and Israelis and announces the renewal of a peace process which the Palestinians dont trust and the Israelis dont want. Then Israel announces that it will build 1,200 new homes for Jews and Jews only on occupied Palestinian land. And now Kerry tells the Palestinians the weak and occupied Palestinians that they are running out of time if they want a state of their own.
Any other statesman involved in any other dispute who told an occupied people that if they didnt make peace their occupiers would steal even more of their land, would be regarded as an outcast, a fellow thief, a potential criminal. But no. John Kerry announces that illegal Jewish colonies or settlements as he likes to call them, along with the worlds Israel-compliant press are illegitimate. I think he meant internationally illegal. But it doesnt matter. In the first 10 years of the Oslo process, the number of Israelis living on stolen Palestinian land doubled to 400,000. No wonder Kerry muttered that Israels latest theft announcement was to some degree [sic] expected.
You bet it was. Israel has been running rings around cowardly US administrations for decades, ignoring Washingtons squirming embarrassment every time it went for another land grab on someone elses property. The Oslo accords, remember, envisioned a five-year period in which Israelis and Palestinians would refrain from taking any unilateral steps that would prejudice the outcome of the negotiations. Israel simply ignored this. As it still does. And what does Kerry advise the Palestinians? That they should not react adversely!
This is preposterous. Kerry must know as the UN and the EU know that there is not the slightest chance of Palestine existing as a state because the Israelis have already stolen too much land on the West Bank. Anyone who drives around the occupied territories realises at once (unless they are politically blind) that there is as much chance of building a state in the West Bank whose map of colonies and non-colonised districts looks like the smashed windscreen of a car as there is waiting for the return of the Ottoman Empire.
And Kerry? Hes a man whose every statement must be colonised by the word sic. Take this, for example. We have known [sic] that there was going to be a continuation of some [sic] building [sic] in certain [sic] places, and I think the Palestinians understand that. I suppose there should be a sic after understand as well. And then Kerry tells us that what this hes talking about the land theft underscores, actually [sic again], is the importance of getting to the table quickly. In other words, do what youre told now or well let the Israelis snatch even more of your property. In the real world, this is called blackmail.
Then came the ultimate lie: that the question of settlements is best resolved by solving the problem of security and borders. Tosh. The colonies or settlements, as Kerry goes on calling these acts of robbery are not being taken by Israel because of security or borders but because the Israeli Right, which continues to dominate the Netanyahu administration, wants the land for itself. Many Israelis dont. Many Israelis see the vileness of this land theft and condemn it. They deserve the peace and security which the world wishes them. But they wont get it with colonisation, and they know it.
And Kerry isnt on their side. Hes going all out for peace on Israeli government terms, and the Palestinians cabined, cribbed, confined have got to shut up and take what they can get. And they will be given a few small morsels. Twenty-six elderly prisoners will be handed over today. Crumbs for Mahmoud Abbas and his merry men. But more colonies for Israel, a country which hasnt even told John Kerry or us where its eastern border is. On the old 1967 green line? Along the colony line east of Jerusalem? Or the Jordan river? But for Kerry, its hurry, hurry, hurry. Book your seats now, or it will be a full house. What price Palestine?
Has John Kerry no shame? First he cuddles up to both Palestinians and Israelis and announces the renewal of a peace process which the Palestinians dont trust and the Israelis dont want. Then Israel announces that it will build 1,200 new homes for Jews and Jews only on occupied Palestinian land. And now Kerry tells the Palestinians the weak and occupied Palestinians that they are running out of time if they want a state of their own.
Any other statesman involved in any other dispute who told an occupied people that if they didnt make peace their occupiers would steal even more of their land, would be regarded as an outcast, a fellow thief, a potential criminal. But no. John Kerry announces that illegal Jewish colonies or settlements as he likes to call them, along with the worlds Israel-compliant press are illegitimate. I think he meant internationally illegal. But it doesnt matter. In the first 10 years of the Oslo process, the number of Israelis living on stolen Palestinian land doubled to 400,000. No wonder Kerry muttered that Israels latest theft announcement was to some degree [sic] expected.
You bet it was. Israel has been running rings around cowardly US administrations for decades, ignoring Washingtons squirming embarrassment every time it went for another land grab on someone elses property. The Oslo accords, remember, envisioned a five-year period in which Israelis and Palestinians would refrain from taking any unilateral steps that would prejudice the outcome of the negotiations. Israel simply ignored this. As it still does. And what does Kerry advise the Palestinians? That they should not react adversely!
This is preposterous. Kerry must know as the UN and the EU know that there is not the slightest chance of Palestine existing as a state because the Israelis have already stolen too much land on the West Bank. Anyone who drives around the occupied territories realises at once (unless they are politically blind) that there is as much chance of building a state in the West Bank whose map of colonies and non-colonised districts looks like the smashed windscreen of a car as there is waiting for the return of the Ottoman Empire.
And Kerry? Hes a man whose every statement must be colonised by the word sic. Take this, for example. We have known [sic] that there was going to be a continuation of some [sic] building [sic] in certain [sic] places, and I think the Palestinians understand that. I suppose there should be a sic after understand as well. And then Kerry tells us that what this hes talking about the land theft underscores, actually [sic again], is the importance of getting to the table quickly. In other words, do what youre told now or well let the Israelis snatch even more of your property. In the real world, this is called blackmail.
Then came the ultimate lie: that the question of settlements is best resolved by solving the problem of security and borders. Tosh. The colonies or settlements, as Kerry goes on calling these acts of robbery are not being taken by Israel because of security or borders but because the Israeli Right, which continues to dominate the Netanyahu administration, wants the land for itself. Many Israelis dont. Many Israelis see the vileness of this land theft and condemn it. They deserve the peace and security which the world wishes them. But they wont get it with colonisation, and they know it.
And Kerry isnt on their side. Hes going all out for peace on Israeli government terms, and the Palestinians cabined, cribbed, confined have got to shut up and take what they can get. And they will be given a few small morsels. Twenty-six elderly prisoners will be handed over today. Crumbs for Mahmoud Abbas and his merry men. But more colonies for Israel, a country which hasnt even told John Kerry or us where its eastern border is. On the old 1967 green line? Along the colony line east of Jerusalem? Or the Jordan river? But for Kerry, its hurry, hurry, hurry. Book your seats now, or it will be a full house. What price Palestine?
