Will she have to apologize to Kerry too?
In an interview with the Times of Israel, Australian Foreign Minister Julie Bishop said that
Israel's 'settlements' are not illegal under international law.
In an exclusive interview with The Times of
Israel, Julie Bishop suggested that, contrary to conventional diplomatic
wisdom, the settlements may not be illegal under international law. She
refrained from condemning Israeli initiatives to build additional
housing units beyond the Green Line or from calling on Israel to freeze
such plans, merely saying the fact that settlements were being expanded
showed the need for the sides to quickly reach a peace agreement.
“I don’t want to prejudge the fundamental
issues in the peace negotiations,” Bishop said. “The issue of
settlements is absolutely and utterly fundamental to the negotiations
that are under way and I think it’s appropriate that we give those
negotiations every chance of succeeding.”
Asked whether she agrees or disagrees with the
near-universal view that Israeli settlements anywhere beyond the 1967
lines are illegal under international law, she replied: “I would like to
see which international law has declared them illegal.”
...
“Our interest is in a negotiated peace between
the Israelis and the Palestinians and we believe that every opportunity
should be given to those negotiations to proceed to its solution,” said
Bishop, who came to Israel on Monday to attend the funeral of former
prime minister Ariel Sharon. “I don’t think it’s helpful to prejudge the
settlement issue if you’re trying to get a negotiated solution. And by
deeming the activity as a war crime, it’s unlikely to engender a
negotiated solution.”
The issue of Israeli settlements should be determined in the course of the current US-brokered peace talks, she added.
...
Bishop also condemned what she said was
excessive pressure exerted on Israel by Western states and civil
society, including the threat of boycotts.
“Israel has
to be ever vigilant against such tendencies on the part of the
international community,” the minister said. While private organizations
were free to boycott whomever they wanted, any Australian body that
received state funding should be barred from calling for boycotts, she
continued.
She also
strongly condemned the global anti-Israel BDS movement: “It’s
anti-Semitic. It identifies Israel out of all other nations as being
worthy of a boycott, divestment and sanctions campaign? Hypocritical
beyond belief.”
Will Bishop have to apologize to Kerry for undermining his 'peace efforts'?
Labels: BDS, Julie Bishop, Middle East peace process, settlements are legal
1 Comments:
AAAAARRRRRGGG! Skerry Kerry strikes yet again!
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