In Talks With Netanyahu, Europeans, Kerry Seeks To Avert UN Crisis Over Israel-Palestinians
Source: Associated Press
By MATTHEW LEE | Associated Press | 3 hours, 9 minutes ago
BOGOTA, Colombia (AP) — U.S. Secretary of State John Kerry says he hopes upcoming talks with Israel's prime minister and European officials will avert the possibility of a U.N. Security Council clash over proposed resolutions dealing with the Israeli-Palestinian conflict.
Meetings set for Kerry next week in Europe aim to unite different countries that, currently, are pushing conflicting proposals for a two-state solution to generations of war and tensions between Israel and Palestinians. Several nations, including Jordan and France, have proposed Security Council resolutions that they would like to see adopted before the end of the year.
"We're trying to figure out a way to help defuse the tensions and reduce the potential for more conflict," Kerry told reporters Friday in Bogota, where he met with Colombian President Juan Manuel Santos. "We're exploring various possibilities to that end."
"There are a lot of different folks pushing in different directions out there and the question is: 'Can we all pull in the same direction,'" Kerry said.
Read more: http://www.newser.com/article/ae8795c6099e4169b5ad5be0b0d8c81a/in-talks-with-netanyahu-europeans-kerry-seeks-to-avert-un-crisis-over-israel-palestinians.html
= new reply since forum marked as read
Highlight:
NoneDon't highlight anything
5 newestHighlight 5 most recent replies
another_liberal
(8,821 posts)The way to do so should be quite clear, Mr. Secretary of State, if that is what you really hope to do? The United States needs to cut all military aid to Israel, permanently, and also suspend all economic aid and trade of all kinds until the Israeli government withdraws its illegal settlements from Palestinian lands.
After that, and I do think that will do the trick quite quickly, we should sponsor a region-wide peace conference, a real one which includes all interested parties (even the nasty ones).
BillZBubb
(10,650 posts)But it will never happen.
another_liberal
(8,821 posts)Meanwhile, lets see what happens.
BillZBubb
(10,650 posts)Does "N" want us to strong arm the Europeans to kill it, or does he want us to just veto whatever comes up for a vote? Kerry needs to know.
another_liberal
(8,821 posts)Their position is morally and legally indefensible in the eyes of the World. All Netanyahu can hope to do is postpone the inevitable until another day, another month, another year. He is blustering and murderously capable, but he can offer no real solution to his peoples' situation.
Kerry is merely playing "kick the can" as well. The current American administration seems unable to deliver either justice to the Palestinians or victorious peace to the Israelis. I've come to believe they may not even want to seriously try.
The Palestinians want to regain their birthright, and they want revenge. Though most of them, I like to think, would settle for the former.
karynnj
(59,501 posts)The problem is that ANY comment against Netanyahu by the US is more likely to strengthen Netanyahu rather than hurt him. If the world does pass a resolution before the elections, it very likely will lead Israelis to rally around Netanyahu (just as the US rallied around Bush). From a Haartez analysis - Netanyahu wins if there is a resolution - whether the US vetoes it or not.
My guess is that Kerry and Netanyahu are on very different pages here. Netanyahu likely wants the strongest resolution possible vetoed by the US. This would be a victory for him. (It is hard to figure his second or third choices.) Kerry clearly wants to prevent that.
However, the toughest decision for the US might be if Kerry succeeds in finding language that others accept and which the US (with a position in favor of a two state solution for over a decade) could vote for. Politically, that would be a very difficult given the power of AIPAC etc --- and --- it likely could help reelect Netanyahu. However, the US vetoing something that states our official policy will have major negative impacts on our relations with every Arab nation that we need in the anti ISIS coalition.
Reading Haartez and DU, this problem simply makes my head hurt. Kerry clearly has a really impossible job there. Every outcome will be seen as completely unacceptable by a large block of people.
