Israel Matzav

Kerry's Obsession

Bashar al-Assad has been murdering Syrians for three years. Islamic State is overrunning parts of Syria and Iraq. Turkey is going Islamist and destroying Kurdistan. Iran is developing ballistic missiles to deliver its nuclear weapons. So what should be the biggest priority for the Middle East? If you're US Secretary of State John Kerry, it's the holy grail of 'peace' between Israel and the 'Palestinians.'

"I think that it is more critical than ever that we be fighting for peace, and I think it is more necessary than ever... As I went around and met with people in the course of our discussions about the ISIL (Islamic State) coalition, the truth is we – there wasn’t a leader I met with in the region who didn’t raise with me spontaneously the need to try to get peace between Israel and the Palestinians, because it was a cause of recruitment and of street anger and agitation that they felt," Kerry said.

The US leader added that in order to achieve peace, both sides must make compromises.

"So what we need to do is recognize that we need to build peace through specific partnerships. One partnership is specifically the effort to try to drive towards this peace, to have a compromise, to find a way to create two states that can live together side by side, two peoples, with both of their aspirations being respected. I still believe that’s possible, and I still believe we need to work towards it," he said.

What could go wrong?

Labels: John Kerry, Middle East peace process, Obama's obsession with Palestinians, State Department obsession with Israel

posted by Carl in Jerusalem @ 11:46 AM