Israeli officials slam Kerry's 'Jewish state' statement
Communications minister Gilad Erdan told Israel Radio that it was unfortunate that the top US diplomat made the comments ahead of Palestinian Authority President Mahmoud Abbas's arrival to Washington on Monday.
Erdan charged that Kerry had erred in marking the statements and said they put pressure on the wrong side.
Meanwhile, Deputy Foreign Minister Ze'ev Elkin told the radio station that Kerry's remarks represented a pattern that had developed over the past 20 year, in which the international community finds it easier to pressure Israel rather than the Palestinians, despite who it believes is in the right.
Elkin called for Israel to stand up for its principles and bring an end to the "sad tradition."
In an interview that aired Saturday on Channel 2’s Meet the Press, Defense Minister Moshe Ya’alon disputed Kerry’s contention that Israel erred in demanding Palestinian recognition of its Jewish character.
Ya’alon said that Abbas has persistently refused to recognize Israel as a Jewish state, and it is this refusal that makes it impossible to arrive at a final-peace deal.And Netanyahu (and Foreign Minister Avigdor Lieberman for that matter)? It remains to be seen whether they have the backbone to stand up to Kerry. Because I would not bet on Abu Bluff making any concessions nor would I bet on Kerry or Obama being honest enough to blame the 'Palestinians' when the 'talks' collapse.
Labels: Abu Mazen, Avigdor Lieberman, Barack Hussein Obama, Binyamin Netanyahu, Gilad Erdan, Israel is a Jewish state, John Kerry, Moshe Yaalon, Zeev Elkin
posted by Carl in Jerusalem @ 9:51 AM
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