‘Poof’: Kerry blames Israel for breakdown in peace talks
In a week that seemed to mark the end of Middle East peace talks, America’s top diplomat laid the blame squarely at the feet of Israel, with John Kerry recalling the moment hope went “poof” and disappeared.
The doggedly determined Secretary of State told fellow lawmakers that the two sides were closer to resolving differences over a delayed Israeli release of Palestinian prisoners when “700 settlement units were announced in Jerusalem and, poof, that was sort of the moment”.
Testifying before the Senate Foreign Relations Committee, Kerry was careful to note “unhelpful actions” on both sides, but clearly identified settlement-building in East Jerusalem as the moment, in his mind, that killed all hopes.
Kerry, who has been careful not to engage with the blame game raging between Israeli and Palestinian leaders, appears to have thrown in the towel, with senior aides briefing that he thinks he has gone as far as he can.
The Israeli reaction to his comment was immediate, with former settler leader and cabinet member Naftali Bennett saying: “Israel will never apologise for building in Jerusalem.”
He added: “Construction in Jerusalem is no ‘poof’ – construction in Jerusalem is Zionism.”
Bennett’s Jewish Home faction, which is abjectly opposed to an independent Palestinian state, controls the Housing Ministry from where tenders are issued, and fellow ministers were quick to point him out, saying the dissolution of talks had been Bennett’s aim all along.
“He’s been playing a double game,” said Environment Minister Amir Peretz, who accused his cabinet colleague of sabotaging the talks.
“They do everything they can to throw cold water on the process, to blow it up, in order that the people of Israel completely lose all hope.”
In the US, Republican Jewish leader Matt Brooks said it was “outrageous for Secretary Kerry to blame the Jewish state”.
Israeli Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu reacted by banning all ministerial contact with the Palestinians outside negotiations. He also blamed Palestinian President Mahmoud Abbas, saying his move to sign ‘the State of Palestine’ up to 15 UN agencies and treaties was a “unilateral action.”
But critics say Abbas only acted after Israel tendered 708 East Jerusalem units on 1 April and reneged on the release of 26 Palestinian prisoners.
They also point to the demolition of more than 600 Palestinian structures in the West Bank last year, the highest rate in more than five years.
Thank you for helping to make Jewish News the leading source of news and opinion for the UK Jewish community. Today we're asking for your invaluable help to continue putting our community first in everything we do.
For as little as £5 a month you can help sustain the vital work we do in celebrating and standing up for Jewish life in Britain.
Jewish News holds our community together and keeps us connected. Like a synagogue, it’s where people turn to feel part of something bigger. It also proudly shows the rest of Britain the vibrancy and rich culture of modern Jewish life.
You can make a quick and easy one-off or monthly contribution of £5, £10, £20 or any other sum you’re comfortable with.
100% of your donation will help us continue celebrating our community, in all its dynamic diversity...
Engaging
Being a community platform means so much more than producing a newspaper and website. One of our proudest roles is media partnering with our invaluable charities to amplify the outstanding work they do to help us all.
Celebrating
There’s no shortage of oys in the world but Jewish News takes every opportunity to celebrate the joys too, through projects like Night of Heroes, 40 Under 40 and other compelling countdowns that make the community kvell with pride.
Pioneering
In the first collaboration between media outlets from different faiths, Jewish News worked with British Muslim TV and Church Times to produce a list of young activists leading the way on interfaith understanding.
Campaigning
Royal Mail issued a stamp honouring Holocaust hero Sir Nicholas Winton after a Jewish News campaign attracted more than 100,000 backers. Jewish Newsalso produces special editions of the paper highlighting pressing issues including mental health and Holocaust remembrance.
Easy access
In an age when news is readily accessible, Jewish News provides high-quality content free online and offline, removing any financial barriers to connecting people.
Voice of our community to wider society
The Jewish News team regularly appears on TV, radio and on the pages of the national press to comment on stories about the Jewish community. Easy access to the paper on the streets of London also means Jewish News provides an invaluable window into the community for the country at large.
We hope you agree all this is worth preserving.
