John Kerry Speaking on Vision for Israeli-Palestinian Peace

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Kerry’s Mid-East speech will ‘ensure chaos lasts after Obama admin’ – Israeli minister.

Speech begins at 22 minutes, 45 seconds.

Posted December 28, 2016

John Kerry Defends U.S. Approach to Israel After U.N. Vote on Settlements

By Felicia Schwartz

December 28, 2016 "Information Clearing House" - "WSJ" -  WASHINGTON—Secretary of State John Kerry launched a forceful defense of the Obama administration’s approach to Israel Wednesday, warning that a two-state solution is “in jeopardy” in a speech outlining the administration’s vision for finding Middle East peace.

Mr. Kerry’s remarks come amid heightened tensions between the U.S. and Israel after the U.S., refraining from using its veto last week in the United Nations Security Council, allowed a resolution critical of Israeli settlements in the West Bank and East Jerusalem to pass.

Mr. Kerry said the U.S. decision to abstain from the vote last week was “in accordance with our values.”

“Some seem to believe that the U.S. friendship means the U.S. must accept any policy, regardless of our own interests, our own positions, our own words, our own principles—even after urging again and again that the policy must change,” Mr. Kerry said. “Friends need to tell each other the hard truths.”

Mr. Kerry said the conditions on the ground such as “violence, terrorism, incitement, settlement expansion and the seemingly endless occupation…are combining to destroy hopes for peace on both sides and increasingly cementing an irreversible one-state reality that most people do not actually want.”

The address also unfolded against a backdrop of an unusual back-and-forth between President-elect Donald Trump and Israeli Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu, as both criticized the Obama administration, which still has three weeks left in office.

Ahead of Mr. Kerry’s speech Wednesday morning, Mr. Trump harshly criticized the Obama administration the resolution to pass and urged Israel to “stay strong” until Jan. 20th, when he takes office.

“They used to have a great friend in the U.S. but not anymore. The beginning of the end was the horrible Iran deal and now this (U.N.)!” Mr. Trump tweeted.

Mr. Netanyahu responded with a tweet thanking Mr. Trump for his “clear-cut support for Israel.” Messrs. Netanyahu and Trump have said they would ignore the new U.N. resolution and pursue their own efforts to reach peace.

Mr. Kerry on Wednesday said the U.S. has done more to support Israel than any other country as its friend.

“This friend that as blocked countless efforts to delegitimize Israel, cannot be true to our own values—or even the stated democratic values of Israel—and we cannot properly defend and protect Israel—if we allow a viable two state solution to be destroyed before our eyes,” Mr. Kerry said.

Relations between the Obama administration and Mr. Netanyahu reached a low point last year as Mr. Netanyahu lobbied lawmakers to scuttle a nuclear deal with Iran that President Barack Obama sees as a pillar of his legacy. Relations soured further as Israel has continued to pursue settlements in the Palestinian territories, and after U.S. refused to use its veto power in the United Nations this week.

Mr. Kerry expended considerable personal effort in 2013 and 2014 trying to broker peace, but those talks ultimately fell apart in spring 2014 over disagreements on land swaps and prisoner exchanges.

Write to Felicia Schwartz at Felicia.Schwartz@wsj.com

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