John Kerry’s public warning to Israel that it will face a 3rd Intifada and international delegitimization unless it relinquishes “illegitimate” settlements and a final peace deal does not leave a single Israeli solder in the West Bank, was a clear threat.
The threat took place in an interview with Israeli and Palestinian television, as reported by The Times of Israel, Kerry slams Israel’s West Bank policies, warns of 3rd Intifada (emphasis added):
US Secretary of State John Kerry launched an unusually bitter public attack on Israeli policies in the West Bank Thursday, warning that if current peace talks fail, Israel could see a third intifada and growing international isolation, and that calls for boycott, divestment and sanctions would increase. Kerry made the comments during a joint interview with Israel’s Channel 2 and the Palestinian Broadcasting Corporation.
“The alternative to getting back to the talks is the potential of chaos,” Kerry said. “I mean does Israel want a third Intifada?” he asked. “Israel says, ‘Oh we feel safe today, we have the wall. We’re not in a day to day conflict’,” said Kerry. “I’ve got news for you. Today’s status quo will not be tomorrow’s…” Israel’s neighbors, he warned, will “begin to push in a different way.”
The secretary went on: “If we do not resolve the issues between Palestinians and Israelis, if we do not find a way to find peace, there will be an increasing isolation of Israel, there will be an increasing campaign of delegitimization of Israel that’s been taking place on an international basis.”
Turning to settlements and Israel’s presence in the West Bank, he added: “If we do not resolve the question of settlements, and the question of who lives where and how and what rights they have; if we don’t end the presence of Israeli soldiers perpetually within the West Bank, then there will be an increasing feeling that if we cannot get peace with a leadership that is committed to non-violence, you may wind up with leadership that is committed to violence.”
The highlighted words have a lot of meaning in the context of the dispute, particularly with regard to BDS and delegitimization.
As Israel-hating, Hezbollah-loving Lebanese commentator Sharmine Narwani notes, in arguing against Israel’s right to exist, Israel is juat “a lone UN Security Council veto” away from international delegitimization — something Kerry surely knows as it has been dangled over Israel’s head by the Obama administration for years.
So too the final agreement issue of Israeli military presence along the Jordan river valley — a military necessity given there are fewer than a dozen miles at some points between the formerly Jordanian illegally occupied West Bank and the sea.
Kerry is not just criticizing, he is dictating the terms of a final agreement, and hanging threats over Israel’s head if it does not capitulate. Israeli officials recognized that, per the Times article:
Israel’s Channel 2 news quoted unnamed officials in Jerusalem responding bitterly to the secretary’s remarks. Israel, said one official, would not “give in to the intimidation tactics” of the secretary, and would not compromise on its vital security needs. The official also reportedly noted that Kerry’s comments would not “encourage” the Palestinians to compromise.
By taking sides publicly, Kerry encourages Palestinian intransigence and escalating demands.
Evelyn Gordon at Commentary notes:
Kerry has been actively encouraging the Palestinians’ bad faith. On his current trip, for instance, he publicly and repeatedly denounced Israeli construction as “illegitimate” and “disturbing,” even though it doesn’t violate any Israeli commitments–including those five signed agreements, not one of which mandated a construction freeze. Yet he hasn’t said a word about PA actions that explicitly violate previous commitments, such as its ongoing campaign of incitement (barred by all its signed agreements) and push for international boycotts and sanctions against Israel. And Europe, needless to say, has been even worse.
The result is that Palestinians have concluded they can violate any agreement with impunity. And Israelis wonder why, in that case, they should ever bother signing one.
(featured image source: YouTube)
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“They told the stories at times they had personally raped, cut off ears, cut off heads, taped wires from portable telephones to human genitals and turned up the power, cut off limbs, blown up bodies, randomly shot at civilians, razed villages in fashion reminiscent of Genghis Khan, shot cattle and dogs for fun, poisoned food stocks, and generally ravaged the countryside of South Vietnam in addition to the normal ravage of war, and the normal and very particular ravaging which is done by the applied bombing power of this country.”
Please do remember that “Genghis” is pronounced JEN-ghis.
Barry loves this guy and I believe it is for the fact that Kerry is as much an idiot or more so, then Barry.
Dog-whistling! Time to start calling it.
Antisemites. Racists.
Kerry VOLUNTEERED for the Riverine forces. He had already done his required tour in Viet Nam. He did so (I believe) because he was advised he needed some combat “cred”. (previously having served on the USS Gridley doing Tonkin Gulf patrols.)
But about that time, the anti war movement was getting into full swing and TET had stunned a nation (with the help of the communist leaning Walter Kronkite’s ad hoc comments) and caused the start of the Nation questioning it’s goals and their achievability IN Viet Nam. (aided and abetted by the poor tactics and communication of the previous and current commanders in country and the meddling by the White House in tactical decisions).
So Kerry decided when he got out to swing the other way with his war record (which interestingly was used during an election to tout his Presidential fitness) and become an Anti War Hero.
He lied about his service, he lied (under oath) before congress about his service and the military and his reward has been more and more “public” service and more political gain.
What a country Hey?
All you need to remember about this jerk, is the three Purple Hearts he took in four months of duty in Vietnam.
He never spent one single hour in sick bay, not one. And what a coincidence, three purple hearts during one tour and you could request a transfer out of a combat zone.
And I’d like to ask anyone out here with specific knowledge, for the last time they heard of any officer in the history of the U.S. Navy PUTTING HIMSELF IN FOR A SILVER STAR ?
I mean, besides our heroic Secretary of State, John F. Kerry. “Reporting for duty!”
Hey, he’s even a fake Irishman! Seriously.
The whole deal was to be another “Kennedy”. He had his own movie camera in country, and was there to build his own PT-109 myth.
Actually, when he volunteered for Swift Boats, they were coastal patrol, but at about the same time his orders were cut the Swift Boats were shifted to Riverine.
And shall we remember his “Christmas in Cambodia” lie?
Funny thing. My Uncle picked up his first(and only) Purple Heart in Nam when he went upriver on one of 5 boats. Funny thing one boat hit a mine, one boat sped away and came back several minutes later. Funny thing, there was no enemy fire.
My Uncle got a broken arm and concussion from part of the boat that hit a mine. With a broken arm he pulled one of the Marines that had been on the boat out of the water. That man got his Purple Heart in exchange for two feet.
Why did nobody ask the Marines hat were on board at the time WTF Scary Kerry the self admitted war criminal did?
Now he’s loving the rapists, baby killers, and head loppers.
My, how times have changed!
The Obami are pushing the world closer to war. Name a point on the compass, and we are in lower regard and higher danger than when Pres. ScamWOW took office.
Even if some of what Kerry says may have merit, he is no longer, how can he be be considered an honest broker?
It is the Arabs that need to face reality, but those that are not afraid to confront them are few and far between.
This is not to say that each and every Arab deserves confrontation. Many simply need information.
Like from the start, Arab aggression and imperialism, with all that brings, is ignored. Seems when they are armed with nuclear weapons will people wake up to the threat to us all, a threat than can be managed if there is resolve to do so.
Kerry is a traitor to his own country, why would anyone assume he would do anything but Obama’s bidding to destroy Israel for his muslim pals?
Of what use will a “peace” treaty be if it results in the annihilation of Israel?
What platitudes and sorrowful looks will we see on tv by this phony when (if this treaty were signed) the palestinians gleeful destroy and kill the Jews (and others) in Israel?
What message is sent to terrorists the world over when 60 years of unrelenting terror results in the terrorists getting what they want and a peaceful democracy (the only one in the Middle East) and peace loving people are destroyed?
Mr. Kerry should be as ashamed of himself as I am of this President, this wrong headed policy and the Media for it’s one sided reporting. (which strangely enough, hasn’t worked. YET)
I just remembered a quote from someone about how;
“if Israel laid down it’s arms, it would be destroyed the next day. If the Palestinians laid down their arms, their would be peace.”
Every peace accord for 40 years has been rejected by (wait for it) THE PALESTINIANS!!!
They have YET to renounce their charter wherein they state that their goal is the annihilation of Israel.
That says it all doesn’t it?
I apologize in advance for my lack of diplomacy. What an asshole Kerry is.
You degrade a vital part of the anatomy by comparing it to Kerry.
Well, every organism needs a waste evacuation portal.
I guess Kerry is the US’s.
Obama needs a distraction for the press while Obamacare implosion is going on. He can’t just blow up a Somali aspirin factory like Bubba did with the Monica scandal, as the Obamacare scandal is far bigger and impacts too many people. So he needs a war that will actually have some legs to divert attention. It is a lot faster to just gin up the perpetual Israel-PLO fight and “lead from behind” than it is to start a war that will commit US troops. And he is already bombing middle east countries with drones, so that won’t do it anymore. Since he is safely in for the next 3 years and the Jewish vote won’t go Republican, this is a no-lose gambit.
Billy Jeff went and declared war on Serbia to try and bury his impeachment for perjury and suborning perjury.
Kerry is threatening Israel with another intifada? Isn’t that Abbas’ job? Who does Kerry work for anyway?
Kerry is out-and-out encouraging terrorists to kill Israelis.
In an honest world, Kerry would be charged as a criminal for inciting terrorists to commit murders.
Can you imagine other world leaders publicly telling terrorists to come to America and kill Americans? Oh, I forgot – some of Kerry’s and O’s Muslim leaders do that on a daily basis.
why the hell doesn’t ANYONE hold Jordan responsible for this crap ???
They’re not Jewish.
Jordan TRIED to help the Palestinians. They repaid the compassion by becoming parasites and engaging in conspiracy against the King.
”
That the best ya got, Jahwn? Israel has already dealt with two intifadas. I think they know what those are. Israel is currently dealing with all the yahoos doing BDS. Troublesome but not an existential threat to the existence of Israel.
Whereas a bad treaty is.
“Israel, said one official, would not ‘give in to the intimidation tactics’ of the secretary, and would not compromise on its vital security needs.”
Kerry promised Assad an incredibly small attack. I guess he gave it to Israel instead.
Kerry: another Obama “navigator” and MSM blowhard, windsailing his way past diplomacy and right into the Cliffs of Ultimatums.
He had no business saying those things. What a moron, a deadly moron.
Did he dye his hair blue?
Are you making a thinly veiled reference to Nostradamus here?
Shorter John Kerry: “Effing Jews, who do they think they are, defending themselves?”
Longer John Kerry: “Don’t those effing Jews know that their proper role in the world is to be exterminated, so that we liberals can cry crocodile tears over their graves?”
Maybe Kerry would change his attitude about Israel if they offered a tax haven for expensive yachts.
Once a traitor always a traitor. John Kerry’s word means nothing. He is a perfect complement to his boss.
Anybody notice that John Kerry looks like a muppet character?
Only if the Muppet went through a wringer washer about five thousand times.
Well, when Obama says things, he’s lying.
When Kerry says things nobody is listening. And, even fewer care.
Did you know Kerry thought he was going to be nominated in 2016? He thought 2016 should be a do-over year for 2004.
Nothing the Obama team figures on actually pans out. That Kerry is up-front nasty. Yeah. But this was known about him during all the time he was in the Senate. He’s inside the saudi pocket. You think he’s kicking Israel?
Do you know why he has such a flat face? The saud’s keep putting their shoes on it.
“Wag the dog!” enough said!
The Arabs had better hope that the response to a third intifada is not a Crusade. There are Christian Zionists all over: USA, Africa, Asia, the Caribbean….
Dear Israel, You know what to do.