UK Government issues unprecedented attack on US Secretary of State John Kerry over Israeli remarks

[mike2000 is back]

UK Government issues unprecedented attack on the US after Secretary of State John Kerry branded Israeli regime the 'most right-wing in history'

By Matt Dathan, Political Correspondent For Mailonline17:36 29 Dec 2016, updated 12:30 30 Dec 2016

No 10 says inappropriate of Kerry to attack the make-up of the democratically-elected Israeli government

• Rebukes US Secretary of State for focusing on the single issue of settlements
• Says Kerry's remarks have been unhelpful in the pursuit of two-state solution
• Increasingly bitter row came after Kerry's strongly-worded attack on Israeli government's illegal construction of settlements in the West Bank

The UK Government today launched an unprecedented attack on the US, its closest ally, over John Kerry's condemnation of the Israeli regime as the 'most right-wing in history'.

In a highly critical speech on foreign policy yesterday the US Secretary of State criticised Irsaeli PM Benjamin Netanyahu for undermining the two-state solution with his settlement policy in the West Bank.

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Britain backed a UN Security Council resolution calling for an end to Israel's construction of settlements in the hotly-disputed region but Mr Kerry went further with his strongly-worded personal attack on Mr Netanyahu and his government.

A spokesman for Prime Minister Theresa May said it was inappropriate of Mr Kerry, America's top diplomat, to attack the make-up of the democratically-elected Israeli government – a key ally of both the US and Britain.

British Prime Minister Theresa May

Outgoing US Secretary of State John Kerry
Everything's peachy! Trump says he's 'getting along well' with Obama despite complaint on Twitter that the outgoing president is hamstringing his administration

• Israeli ambassador: Netanyahu's government contacted Trump about opposing UN resolution only after Obama's White House gave him the cold shoulder

• Trump says Israel is being treated 'very unfairly' but refuses to address whether it should stop building settlements after John Kerry sparked fury from Netanyahu by 'lecturing about peace'

• Trump unloads on United Nations members after stunning anti-Israel vote as he says 'they cause problems' and are 'not living up' to potential

It echoes Mr Netanyahu's riposte yesterday when he accused the US Secretary of State of being skewed against Israel' and talking 'obsessively' about settlements.

President-elect Donald Trump also weighed in to defend the Israeli government.

In his speech yesterday Mr Kerry, who is leaving his post next month along with President Barack Obama, said the only way to achieve peace between Israelis and Palestinians in the Middle East is through a two-state solution to the disputed West Bank.

'That future is now in jeopardy,' the US Secretary of State said.

In a highly critical speech on foreign policy yesterday the US Secretary of State John Kerry, pictured, criticised Irsaeli PM Benjamin Netanyahu for undermining the two-state solution with his settlement policy in the West Bank

Israeli Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu, pictured accused the US Secretary of State of being skewed against Israel' and talking 'obsessively' about settlements

President-elect Donald Trump weighed in to the dispute to defend the Israeli government


He added: 'The Israeli prime minister publicly supports a two-state solution, but his current coalition is the most right-wing in Israeli history with an agenda driven by the most extreme elements.

'The result is that policies of this government, which the prime minister himself just described as more committed to settlements than any Israel's history, are leading in the opposite direction. They are leading towards one state.'

Downing Street insisted it still opposed Israel's construction of settlements in the West Bank and said its criticism was expressing unease at his comments attacking the make-up of the Israeli government.

A spokesman said: 'The British Government continues to believe that the only way to a lasting peace in the Middle East is through a two-state solution.

'We continue to believe that the construction of settlements in the Occupied Palestinian Territories is illegal, which is why we supported UN Security Council Resolution 2334 last week.

'But we are also clear that the settlements are far from the only problem in this conflict. In particular, the people of Israel deserve to live free from the threat of terrorism, with which they have had to cope for too long.'

The US State Department hit straight back, pointing out that nine other major nations had backed Mr Kerry's condemnation of Mr Netanyahu.

A spokesperson said: 'We are grateful for the strongly supportive statements in response to Secretary Kerry's speech from across the world, including Germany, France, Canada, Jordan, Egypt, Turkey, Saudi Arabia, Qatar, the United Arab Emirates and others.

'We are surprised by the UK Prime Minister's office statement given that Secretary Kerry's remarks—which covered the full range of threats to a two state solution, including terrorism, violence, incitement and settlements—were in-line with the UK's own longstanding policy and its vote at the United Nations last week.'

 

[mike2000 is back]

Israeli Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu derided U.S. Secretary of State John Kerry's speech yesterday on Mideast peace process as 'unbalanced' and warned him against additional provocation in the 'waning days' of the Obama administration

Benjamin Netanyahu called the Kerry speech 'unbalanced' and mocked President Obama by posting a picture to his Facebook page of him as a presidential candidate in 2008 visiting the Western Wall and noted that the US is now calling it 'occupied Palestinian territory. 'Seriously?' he wrote

Mr Kerry's speech sparked a major diplomatic war of words between the US and Israeli governments and later Britain joining in condensing U.S secretary of state John Kerry comments against the Israeli government.

Mr Netanyahu called the speech 'unbalanced' and said that 'Israelis do not need to be lectured on the importance of peace'.

He posted a picture to his Facebook page of Mr Obama visiting the Western Wall in 2008 when he was a presidential candidate and noted that the US is now calling it 'occupied Palestinian territory. 'Seriously?' he wrote.

Mr Netanyahu also penned a note of thanks to Mr Trump for his 'clear-cut support' for Israel.

The social media post came after Trump tweeted his own message of support for Israel.

Mr Trump and the outgoing Obama administration are now entirely at odds over Israel, with the president-elect accusing the lame-duck White House of 'disdain and neglect' for the country.

Donald Trump and the outgoing Obama administration are now entirely at odds over Israel, with the president-elect accusing the lame-duck White House of 'disdain and neglect' for the country
The Republican President-elect took to Twitter to say Israel had been treated 'very, very unfairly' by the Obama administration and maintained that countries that are 'horrible places' never get reprimanded.

He refused to directly answer a question about whether Israel should stop building settlements, saying he is 'very, very strong on Israel'.


Mr Trump said Israel is 'up for 20 reprimands' at the United Nations, whereas nations that are 'horrible places, that treat people horribly, haven't even been reprimanded.'

His comments follow the United Nations' condemnation of the construction of Israeli settlements in the West Bank and east Jerusalem.

Mr Trump tweeted earlier in the day saying that Israel should 'stay strong,' saying January 20, inauguration day, 'is fast approaching!'

https://www.google.co.uk/amp/www.da...randed-Israeli-regime-right-wing-history.html


Well done by our P.M. Seems passive/confused Obama administration has gone mad with their recent foreign policies from unwarranted Israeli comments to Russian diplomats expulsion to sanctioning Pakistan for some trivial reason. This administration has been very incompetent/ineffective and inconsistent in so many ways. Lol we should always follow our national interests and act within reason/calm irregardless of anything.

 

[AZADPAKISTAN2009]

Mean while cities in USA have poverty rising and just look at Detroit or california province

And UK government even did not listen to the voter's decision ...what was it Brexit , issue was thrown into Judge hand when the Government Lost

Guess its clear who controls "the will of people"

Local Americans living in difficult conditions in Detroit and California

• Yet 3 billion per year for 10 year for Israel for breaking every imaginable international law
  
• F-35 Free deal

PS: pictures not added to make fun of any person suffering from poverty it was needed to make a argument

 

[mike2000 is back]

Mean while cities in USA have povery rising and just look at Detroit or california province

And UK government even did not listen to the voter's decision ...what was it Brexit , issue was thrown into Judge hand when the Government Lost

Guess its clear who controls "the will of people"

Obama administration has been very much ineffective and indecisive in almost all fronts. He has been a lame duck president in almost all fields. Lol

 

[TOPGUN]

The British caused this mess from the get go start making lines and borders without using their head but only their interest at the time , the so call British empire had caused a mess all over the world look what they have done across the world including between india and Pakistan no offense but this is the truth.

 

[YeBeWarned]

sanctioning Pakistan for some trivial reason

when did that happen ?

 

[mike2000 is back]

The British caused this mess from the get go start making lines and borders without using their head but only their interest at the time , the so call British empire had caused a mess all over the world look what they have done across the world including between india and Pakistan no offense but this is the truth.

Lol So now we are responsible for your issues between Pakistan and India? Lol
Remember that when we gave you people independence you were united under one nation the British Indian empire. The fact that you Muslims majority areas decided to separate (with Punjabis also wanting their own independence) is none of our business. Same with Bengladesh also separating from Pakistan with India's help was none of our business. You people have been free to rule yourselves for decades now and have messed things up. Not our fault.

 

[Solomon2]

'We continue to believe that the construction of settlements in the Occupied Palestinian Territories is illegal, which is why we supported UN Security Council Resolution 2334 last week. 'But we are also clear that the settlements are far from the only problem in this conflict. In particular, the people of Israel deserve to live free from the threat of terrorism, with which they have had to cope for too long.'

She's got it. The attitude of the Obama Administration isn't just that Jews don't have a right to legally exist in their own homeland except at U.N. behest - which is bad enough - but that such Jews should in effect be deprived of their other human rights as well: life, liberty, dignity, etc.

Doubtless Obama felt bad about doing so, which is why he flew to Honolulu to play golf and dine with friends immediately afterwards to cheer up.

 

[mike2000 is back]

when did that happen ?

It was discussed on here(forum) earlier
https://www.federalregister.gov/doc...n-of-certain-persons-to-the-entity-list#print

 

[Frogman]

Spineless, criticising the current administration for the change of policy on Israel while we voted in favour of the resolution at the UN. Trying to score brownie points with Trump before he ascends.

Often the "special relationship" is quite nauseating.

 

[mike2000 is back]

She's got it. The attitude of the Obama Administration isn't just that Jews don't have a right to legally exist in their own homeland except at U.N. behest - which is bad enough - but that such Jews should in effect be deprived of their other human rights as well: life, liberty, dignity, etc.

Doubtless Obama felt bad about doing so, which is why he flew to Honolulu to play golf and dine with friends immediately afterwards to cheer up.

His policy is all over the place, that's the issue with Obama. Seems he has no coherent foreign policy.

Spineless, criticising the current administration for the change of policy on Israel while we voted in favour of the resolution at the UN. Trying to score brownie points with Trump before he ascends.

Often the "special relationship" is quite nauseating.

Have you even red the article genius?
The criticisms wasn't against the resolution which we clearly said we backed. It was against Kerry's uncalled comments/remarks on a democratically elected government and focus on the settlements only as the main issue without also addressing the big picture.
Read before you make such remarks dude.

 

[Solomon2]

His policy is all over the place, that's the issue with Obama. Seems he has no coherent foreign policy.

No, it's nothing as good as that. He promises one thing to get support, then once he has power does something he would never have a public mandate to do if he had campaigned on it and tries to lock others into making that undemocratic action permanent. That's why he acts through the Security Council rather than the law. That's why he abuses his executive authority to the max. Outside of WWII and the Civil War we've never had another president like this.

 

[Frogman]

Have you even red the article genius?

Wind your neck in.

The criticisms wasn't against the resolution which we clearly said we backed. It was against Kerry's uncalled comments/remarks on a democratically elected government and focus on the settlements only as the main issue without also addressing the big picture.

They're also a response at Israeli criticism of the current US administration which has been relentless since Obama took office in spite of raises in military aid and the constant use of veto at the UN.

Although the comments are not constructive they are at the very least honest about the history and Israeli as well as Palestinian attempts to sabotage any hope of a mutual peace agreement.

The UKs criticism costs us naught and is aimed at the next administration taking into account that we have been far more critical of Israeli actions both in the UN and elsewhere.

 

[Solomon2]

Oh, man, now Kerry is coming back voicing surprise at May 's remarks and citing support for the U.S. position from other countries. It's amazing that he can serve so long as senator, special envoy, and SecState without grasping British notions of fair play.

 

[Vassnti]

His policy is all over the place, that's the issue with Obama. Seems he has no coherent foreign policy.

If you think the current administration is all over the place just wait till the next one .

Would be nice to see the quote from something other than the mail wouldnt be the first time "breaking news" was based on a story from a web site in Moldolvia.

Lets face it Kerry tried for years and was treated like shit by Bibi a month to go and he is using it for a last chance to take the diplomatic gloves off and tell it like it is.

I know what America is. America is a thing you can move very easily, move it in the right direction. They won't get in our way. … They asked me before the election if I'd honor [the Oslo accords] … I said I would, but … I'm going to interpret the accords in such a way that would allow me to put an end to this galloping forward to the '67 borders. How did we do it? Nobody said what defined military zones were. Defined military zones are security zones; as far as I'm concerned, the entire Jordan Valley is a defined military zone. Go argue.

As quoted in "Netanyahu: 'America is a thing you can move very easily'" (16 July 2010)