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Israeli Official’s Reported Criticisms of Kerry and Peace Effort Draw U.S. Rebuke Kerry Brushes Aside Israeli Official’s Reported Criticisms of Peace Effort
(about 11 hours later)
KUWAIT — A State Department spokeswoman expressed outrage on Tuesday over a news report in which Israel’s defense minister was said to have dismissed Secretary of State John Kerry’s Middle East peace push as naïve and messianic. KUWAIT — Secretary of State John Kerry brushed aside reports Wednesday that Israel’s defense minister has dismissed his Middle East peace push as naïve and messianic, stressing that he was determined to continue his efforts to secure a peace treaty between Israel and the Palestinians.
“We can’t let one set of comments undermine that effort, and I don’t intend to,” Mr. Kerry told reporters after attending a conference here on humanitarian aid to Syria.
Mr. Kerry asserted that he and Benjamin Netanyahu, the Israeli prime minister, were “both very committed to moving the process forward” and that he always knew the talks would be difficult.
But Mr. Kerry added that he was keeping his focus and was prepared to work with those “willing participants who are committed to peace and to this process.”
The controversy erupted when Moshe Yaalon, Israel’s defense minister, was quoted as making dismissive comments about Mr. Kerry’s efforts and those of John R. Allen, the former American commander in Afghanistan, who has been developing a security plan for the West Bank.
On Tuesday, the State Department spokeswoman expressed outrage.
“The remarks of the defense minister, if accurate, are offensive and inappropriate, especially given all that the United States is doing to support Israel’s security needs,” the spokeswoman, Jen Psaki, said in a statement.“The remarks of the defense minister, if accurate, are offensive and inappropriate, especially given all that the United States is doing to support Israel’s security needs,” the spokeswoman, Jen Psaki, said in a statement.
“Secretary Kerry and his team including General Allen have been working day and night to try to promote a secure peace for Israel because of the secretary’s deep concern for Israel’s future,” she added, referring to John R. Allen, the former top American commander in Afghanistan who has developed proposals for securing the West Bank if a peace treaty between Israel and the Palestinians can be negotiated. “Secretary Kerry and his team including General Allen have been working day and night to try to promote a secure peace for Israel because of the secretary’s deep concern for Israel’s future,” she added.
“To question his motives and distort his proposals is not something we would expect from the defense minister of a close ally,” she said.“To question his motives and distort his proposals is not something we would expect from the defense minister of a close ally,” she said.
The Israeli daily Yediot Aharonot said in a lengthy article published Tuesday that the minister, Moshe Yaalon, had “voiced deep skepticism” and “spared no harsh words” about Mr. Kerry and President Mahmoud Abbas of the Palestinian Authority in “private conversations” with Americans and Israelis. Mr. Yaalon, a senior member of Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu’s Likud Party who has long taken a hard-line stance on the Palestinian issue, was not quoted directly in the article; his comments were described by unnamed sources. The Israeli daily Yediot Aharonot said in a lengthy article published Tuesday that Mr. Yaalon had “voiced deep skepticism” and “spared no harsh words” about Mr. Kerry and President Mahmoud Abbas of the Palestinian Authority in “private conversations” with Americans and Israelis. Mr. Yaalon, a senior member of Mr. Netanyahu’s Likud Party who has long taken a hard-line stance on the Palestinian issue, was not quoted directly in the article; his comments were described by unnamed sources.
“The American plan for security arrangements that was shown to us isn’t worth the paper it was written on,” Mr. Yaalon, a former chief of Israel’s military, was quoted as saying. “It provides neither security nor peace.”“The American plan for security arrangements that was shown to us isn’t worth the paper it was written on,” Mr. Yaalon, a former chief of Israel’s military, was quoted as saying. “It provides neither security nor peace.”
The article said Mr. Yaalon had said Mr. Kerry “operates from an incomprehensible obsession and sense of messianism” and “can’t teach me anything about the conflict with the Palestinians.”The article said Mr. Yaalon had said Mr. Kerry “operates from an incomprehensible obsession and sense of messianism” and “can’t teach me anything about the conflict with the Palestinians.”
“The only thing that might save us is if John Kerry wins the Nobel Prize and leaves us be,” Mr. Yaalon was quoted as saying. “We’ve given enough and have received nothing. In a free translation from English, we will tell our American friends, enough is enough.”“The only thing that might save us is if John Kerry wins the Nobel Prize and leaves us be,” Mr. Yaalon was quoted as saying. “We’ve given enough and have received nothing. In a free translation from English, we will tell our American friends, enough is enough.”
If the report is accurate, it will be the most public and personal rift between a high-ranking Israeli official and the United States over the peace process since the American-brokered talks started in the summer. The relationship has also been under strain because of deep disagreements regarding the diplomatic deal in the works on Iran’s nuclear program.If the report is accurate, it will be the most public and personal rift between a high-ranking Israeli official and the United States over the peace process since the American-brokered talks started in the summer. The relationship has also been under strain because of deep disagreements regarding the diplomatic deal in the works on Iran’s nuclear program.
Mr. Kerry is trying to persuade Mr. Abbas and Mr. Netanyahu to agree to a framework that would set out the core principles of a peace deal and provide guidelines for continuing to discuss the details. Senior Israeli and Palestinian officials have in recent days splashed cold water on the effort, suggesting that the two sides may have irreconcilable differences on borders, refugees, security, the status of Jerusalem and the recognition of Israel as a Jewish state.Mr. Kerry is trying to persuade Mr. Abbas and Mr. Netanyahu to agree to a framework that would set out the core principles of a peace deal and provide guidelines for continuing to discuss the details. Senior Israeli and Palestinian officials have in recent days splashed cold water on the effort, suggesting that the two sides may have irreconcilable differences on borders, refugees, security, the status of Jerusalem and the recognition of Israel as a Jewish state.
Later Tuesday, the Israeli news website Ynet, the online sister of Yediot, said Mr. Yaalon had offered an apology in a statement released by his office. “Israel and the United States share a common goal to advance the peace talks between Israel and the Palestinians led by Secretary Kerry,” the statement said. “We appreciate Secretary Kerry’s many efforts toward that end.Later Tuesday, the Israeli news website Ynet, the online sister of Yediot, said Mr. Yaalon had offered an apology in a statement released by his office. “Israel and the United States share a common goal to advance the peace talks between Israel and the Palestinians led by Secretary Kerry,” the statement said. “We appreciate Secretary Kerry’s many efforts toward that end.
“The defense minister had no intention to cause any offense to the secretary, and he apologizes if the secretary was offended by words attributed to the minister.”“The defense minister had no intention to cause any offense to the secretary, and he apologizes if the secretary was offended by words attributed to the minister.”
Other Israeli politicians rushed to repair the damage. Though Mr. Netanyahu did not address the Yaalon comments directly, he said during a speech in Parliament on Tuesday that the United State was “our greatest ally” and that Israel was “working in cooperation” with the American president, vice president and secretary of state.Other Israeli politicians rushed to repair the damage. Though Mr. Netanyahu did not address the Yaalon comments directly, he said during a speech in Parliament on Tuesday that the United State was “our greatest ally” and that Israel was “working in cooperation” with the American president, vice president and secretary of state.
“We maintain our interests, while cultivating this important tie between the two nations,” Mr. Netanyahu said. “We strive to reach a true peace accord.”“We maintain our interests, while cultivating this important tie between the two nations,” Mr. Netanyahu said. “We strive to reach a true peace accord.”
President Shimon Peres also expressed his support for what he called Mr. Kerry’s “extraordinary commitment.” In a Parliament speech, he said, “Our deep friendship with the U.S.A. is a central component of Israel’s security and a force for the advancement of peace in the region.”President Shimon Peres also expressed his support for what he called Mr. Kerry’s “extraordinary commitment.” In a Parliament speech, he said, “Our deep friendship with the U.S.A. is a central component of Israel’s security and a force for the advancement of peace in the region.”
A State Department official, who asked not to be identified under the agency’s diplomatic protocol, said that Ms. Psaki’s statement had been coordinated with the White House. Mr. Kerry, who often speaks to Mr. Netanyahu, did not talk to him on Tuesday. But Dan Shapiro, the American ambassador to Israel, has been in touch with both Mr. Netanyahu and Mr. Yaalon, the official said.A State Department official, who asked not to be identified under the agency’s diplomatic protocol, said that Ms. Psaki’s statement had been coordinated with the White House. Mr. Kerry, who often speaks to Mr. Netanyahu, did not talk to him on Tuesday. But Dan Shapiro, the American ambassador to Israel, has been in touch with both Mr. Netanyahu and Mr. Yaalon, the official said.
The focus of Mr. Yaalon’s complaint, according to the Yediot article, concerns the security arrangements for the Jordan Valley. Israel has insisted on a long-term presence of its soldiers on what would be the future border with the Palestinian state, something the Palestinians say would compromise their sovereignty. The American position on how many Israeli soldiers should stay and for how long is unclear, but part of the plan is to use high-tech systems to ensure security, something Mr. Yaalon derided, according to the article.The focus of Mr. Yaalon’s complaint, according to the Yediot article, concerns the security arrangements for the Jordan Valley. Israel has insisted on a long-term presence of its soldiers on what would be the future border with the Palestinian state, something the Palestinians say would compromise their sovereignty. The American position on how many Israeli soldiers should stay and for how long is unclear, but part of the plan is to use high-tech systems to ensure security, something Mr. Yaalon derided, according to the article.
On Facebook, Tzipi Livni, Israel’s justice minister and one of its two lead negotiators, criticized the tone of Mr. Yaalon’s reported comments, saying, “We can oppose negotiations in a responsible and measured way, without compromising relations with our best friend,” meaning the United States.On Facebook, Tzipi Livni, Israel’s justice minister and one of its two lead negotiators, criticized the tone of Mr. Yaalon’s reported comments, saying, “We can oppose negotiations in a responsible and measured way, without compromising relations with our best friend,” meaning the United States.
Yuval Steinitz, Israel’s strategic affairs minister and another senior Likud leader, said on Israel Radio Tuesday morning that he agreed with the content of Mr. Yaalon’s critique, but not the character. “With all the disagreements that we sometimes have,” Mr. Steinitz said, “we have to keep one ironclad rule: without personal insults.”Yuval Steinitz, Israel’s strategic affairs minister and another senior Likud leader, said on Israel Radio Tuesday morning that he agreed with the content of Mr. Yaalon’s critique, but not the character. “With all the disagreements that we sometimes have,” Mr. Steinitz said, “we have to keep one ironclad rule: without personal insults.”
And Avigdor Lieberman, Israel’s foreign minister, told Jewish leaders in Geneva that “it isn’t right and is not helpful to Israel to have a loud and public argument,” according to the Israeli daily Haaretz.And Avigdor Lieberman, Israel’s foreign minister, told Jewish leaders in Geneva that “it isn’t right and is not helpful to Israel to have a loud and public argument,” according to the Israeli daily Haaretz.
Mr. Kerry, who spent four days in Jerusalem and the West Bank in serial meetings with Mr. Abbas and Mr. Netanyahu early this month, had been considering a return this week depending on progress in the talks, but decided instead to go to Rome to meet with Archbishop Pietro Parolin, Pope Francis’ secretary of state. Pope Francis is planning to visit Israel and Jordan in May.Mr. Kerry, who spent four days in Jerusalem and the West Bank in serial meetings with Mr. Abbas and Mr. Netanyahu early this month, had been considering a return this week depending on progress in the talks, but decided instead to go to Rome to meet with Archbishop Pietro Parolin, Pope Francis’ secretary of state. Pope Francis is planning to visit Israel and Jordan in May.
Mr. Kerry then proceeded to Kuwait.Mr. Kerry then proceeded to Kuwait.