John Kerry Slams Netanyahu
by Stephen Lendman (stephenlendman.org – Home – Stephen Lendman)
In his new book to be released on September 4, titled “Every Day Is Extra,” Kerry harshly criticized Israeli PM Netanyahu – a thuggish war criminal racist he failed to slam hard enough.
His tough talk on Netanyahu resembled the pot calling the kettle black. Throughout his deplorable public disservice as Massachusetts Lt. Governor, US senator, and secretary of state, he was Israel’s most reliable US supporter.
The American-Israeli Cooperative Enterprise (AICE) once said he endorsed “strengthening Israel’s security and bolstering the US-Israel special relationship.”
“His pro-Israel voting record is second to none.” He’ll “never do anything to compromise (Israel’s) security.”
He’s committed to a “special relationship.” His support for Israel is “unwavering.”
He endorses “Israel’s right to respond to terrorism (sic) – including against Hamas, Islamic Jihad, and other terrorist groups in Gaza (sic).”
The only ones there are when Israeli forces invade cross-border, raping and destroying everything in their path.
Kerry backs “continued assistance in strengthening Israel’s homeland defenses” – despite the Jewish state having no enemies except invented ones.
He called Arafat “a failed leader and unfit partner for peace and therefore supported his total isolation.”
He “demanded a new, responsible Palestinian leadership, committed to ending the violence and fighting terror” – none exists in the Territories, just Israeli and US state terror, along with ISIS and other terrorist groups they support regionally.
Long before Trump disgracefully and illegally moved America’s embassy in Israel to Jerusalem, a UN-established international city, Kerry favored the move, calling Jerusalem “Israel’s indisputable capital.”
He criticized the Clinton co-presidency for not moving Washington’s embassy there.
As a senator from Massachusetts, he co-sponsored the 2003 Syria Accountability and Lebanese Sovereignty Restoration Act, saying “we must ensure that Syria does not acquire and distribute additional weapons thereby exasperating tensions in the Middle East, raising potential threats to Israel, and undermining arms control.”
The measure was all sticks and no carrots. It combined punitive economic sanctions and diplomatic pressure.
It heightened regional tensions, banning military and dual use exports to Syria – prelude to US aggression in 2011. Assad likely feared it, not knowing when it would come.
Before becoming the Obama regime’s secretary of state, Kerry opposed Iran’s peaceful nuclear program, calling it “unacceptable,” falsely claiming it compromises Israeli, regional and US security.
In 2009, he signed a Senate resolution, opposing Palestinian self-determination, falsely claiming Israel has no legitimate peace partner.
After Israel’s May 2010 Mavi Marmara massacre, the vessel in international waters en route to deliver vital humanitarian aid to entrapped Gazans, he disgracefully said Israel “has every right in the world to make certain weapons are not being smuggled in” – knowing none were on board the ship or any other humanitarian missions to the Strip.
Kerry was an unapologetic pro-Israel warmonger. When appointed Obama’s secretary of state, Netanyahu welcomed him, calling him a personal friend and staunch Israeli supporter.
That may change following release of Kerry’s new book. Jewish Insider got an advance copy. It includes very unflattering comments about Netanyahu (often called Bibi).
Kerry: In 2013, “I met with Bibi at the King David Hotel. He looked me dead in the eye and said, ‘John, I’m willing to give (conflict resolution) a try, but there are two things you should know.”
“First, everyone in this region lies all the time, and you Americans have a hard time understanding that.”
“Second, the most I can do may be less than the least Abbas could ever accept.’ That statement really stayed with me. Bibi was raising the bar, perhaps impossibly” high.”
The so-called “peace process” was a colossal hoax each time initiated, always dead on arrival because the US and Israel want endless conflict and instability – in the Occupied Territories and throughout the region.
Kerry: “It was…clear…that Bibi was not interested in…addressing the security questions in a way that could allow for the eventual withdrawal of the IDF” from the Occupied Territories – or give up one square meter of land Israel wants exclusively for itself.
During summer 2014 Israeli naked aggression in Gaza, Kerry said he began no longer trusting Netanyahu.
“(I)n the middle of negotiating (a ceasefire,” he saw confidential information leaked to the media, calling what happened “outrageous,” adding:
“The humanitarian ceasefire was (Netanyahu’s) idea.” Yet he “leak(ed) this document to make it sound like I (was) trying to advance Hamas’ position.”
Throughout 2013-14 no-peace/peace talks, Netanyahu made unacceptable demands, offering nothing in return but empty promises – the way Israel and Washington always negotiate, all take and no give.
Both countries demand unconditional Palestinian surrender to their demands. It’s always been this way – why over half a century of on-and-off so-called peace talks always failed.
Trump’s so-called “deal of the century” is worse than anything preceding it, why it’s dead before arrival.
Trump and Netanyahu regime hardliners abhor peace and stability. Agreeing to it would defeat their imperial aims – why conflict rages endlessly in the Territories and throughout the region.
A final Comment
In December 2016, Security Council 2334 was adopted by a 14 – 0 vote, Washington abstaining.
It said settlements have “no legal validity and constitute a flagrant violation under international law.”
It demanded “Israel immediately and completely cease all settlement activities in occupied Palestinian territory, including East Jerusalem.”
It recognized no territorial changes “to the 4 June 1967 lines, including with regard to Jerusalem, other than those agreed by the parties through negotiations.”
It “(c)alled upon all States, to distinguish, in their relevant dealings, between the territory of the State of Israel and the territories occupied since 1967.”
It “(c)alled for immediate steps to prevent all acts of violence against civilians, including acts of terror, as well as all acts of provocation and destruction, calls for accountability in this regard…”
AIPAC was furious over Obama’s failure to veto the resolution, usually rubber-stamp on anything hostile to Israel.
In his book, Kerry said “(w)e all understood (a) political firestorm” was coming for not vetoing Res. 2334.
Trump said he’d appoint Ziofascist David Friedman as US envoy to Israel post-inauguration. Before assuming office, DJT showed he’s more one-sided for Israel than any of his predecessors, entirely hostile to Palestinian rights.
Obama’s failure to veto SC Res. 2334 was more about acting against Trump than hostility toward Israel all US presidents fully supported.
Separately, Kerry said he hasn’t ruled out possibly running for president in 2020 at age-77.
In 2004, he failed to contest GW Bush for the office he won, letting GW claim it by electoral theft for the second time.
He likely was the only US president serving two terms illegitimately, losing both times, assuming office anyway without challenge by his undemocratic Dem opponents.
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