‘Obsessed’ John Kerry’s statements on Israel boycott ‘offensive’ and not in line with peace goals
US Secretary of State John Kerry is facing criticism from Israeli leadership for invoking threatened boycotts of Israel as a key reason the Israeli government should agree to a framework peace agreement with the Palestinians.
State Dept photo John Kerry and Benjamin Netanyahu, April 2013
At the Munich Security Conference on Saturday, Kerry said, “[Y]ou see for Israel there’s an increasing de-legitimization campaign that has been building up. People are very sensitive to it. There are talk of boycotts and other kinds of things. Are we all going to be better with all of that?”
Intelligence Minister Yuval Steinitz on Sunday morning said Israel cannot be pressured to negotiate with “a gun against its head” and that Kerry’s remarks were “offensive and unacceptable.”
Economy Minister Naftali Bennett of the right-wing Jewish Home party had a message for “all of the advice givers.”
“Never has a nation abandoned their land because of economic threats. We are no different,” Bennett wrote on Facebook in response to Kerry’s comments. “Only security will ensure economic stability. Not a terrorist state next to Ben Gurion Airport.”
“We expect our friends around the world to stand beside us, against anti-Semitic boycott efforts targeting Israel, and not for them to be their amplifier,” Bennett added.
Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu weighed in on the boycott threats, primarily from Europe, during his weekly cabinet meeting, though he did not directly criticize Kerry.
According to a transcript of his remarks posted on the prime minister’s website, Netanyahu called attempts to boycott Israel “immoral and unjust.”
“They will not achieve their goal,” Netanyahu said. “First, they cause the Palestinians to adhere to their intransigent positions and thus push peace further away. Second, no pressure will cause me to concede the vital interests of the State of Israel, especially the security of Israel’s citizens.”
Israeli Defense Minister Moshe (Bogie) Ya’alon targeted Kerry earlier this month calling Kerry “obsessed” and “messianic” in his quest to secure a peace deal between Israel and the Palestinians.
I think that Its very bad image in the peace Process.
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