Netanyahu counts on Trump to contain damage

US Secretary of State John Kerry warned Israel that building settlements on Palestinian land is a major roadblock to peace. In the most scathing remark, Kerry accused Israeli Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu of being most right-wing in country’s history. He blamed Netanyahu’s government of perpetual occupation of Palestinian territories.
There is an ambiguity as to what would be Washington’s next move, but Tel Aviv fears the administration could attempt to codify these principles in a UN resolution or statement by the Middle East diplomatic quartet.
Kerry’s speech did not depart from US policy of many years. But he gave a detailed breakdown of the problem as he sees it. US top diplomat said that there are a similar number of Jews and Palestinians living between the Jordan River and the Mediterranean Sea. He said that both parties can either choose to live together or they can separate into two states. Kerry said that Israel can either be Jews state or democratic. It can’t be both at the same time.
Secretary of State’s take came in the wake of a diplomatic firestorm that was triggered last week when US chose not veto a UN Security Council resolution criticizing Israel. Obama administration abstained from the voting instead. The resolution, which was backed unanimously by rest of the council members, effectively declared Israel’s settlements in areas of east Jerusalem and the West Bank beyond its 1967 border illegal.
Netanyahu said Washington’s chief diplomat was biased towards the Palestinian cause. Netanyahu, whose right-wing coalition is backed by the settler movement and who has insisted the home building is no threat to peace, was furious and accused Obama and Kerry of orchestrating the Security Council vote.
The Palestinians seek all of the West Bank and east Jerusalem, territories captured by Israel in 1967, as part of an independent state. International community backs this demand. Netanyahu is furious that UN resolution excludes Israel’s claim to any part of the occupied areas, including Jewish holy sites in Jerusalem. But the resolution leaves the door open to agreed land swaps.
Kerry’s speech came as Israel faces increasing international isolation. Netanyahu’s settlements policies have earned him global impatience. Some 70 nations are expected to participate in the January 15 conference in France to discuss the protracted conflict, which is considered the root cause of Middle East strife. Israelis thinks that the upcoming meet may result in a proposal they view as unfavourable, which could then be taken to the UN for a seal of approval.
Kerry insisted that US could not ‘in good conscience’ have vetoed a resolution it broadly agrees with, and heaped accusation on Israel. The top diplomat said that Israeli land grab policy has put the two-state solution in jeopardy. Undoubtedly, the settler agenda is leading Israeli policy and imperiling prospects for peace. Trends indicate a comprehensive effort to take West Bank land for Israel and prevent any Palestinian development there.
A livid Netanyahu is now counting most on President-elect Donald Trump to contain the damage. Trump has already indicated that he would be far more sympathetic towards Israel and has appointed an ambassador with deep ties to the settler movement. It is imperative that France meet must lay down the framework for a peace process that might bear fruit before Trump. There is an indication that the Republican might radically change the US position as he has already asked Israel, “stay strong, January 20th is fast approaching!”