In parting shot, Kerry tears into Israel over settlements

Kerry has it exactly right. Likud settlement policy has been sabotaging the two-state solution for decades. Calling them out was long overdue.

http://www.breitbart.com/jerusalem/2016/12/27/netanyahu-un-silent-jews-massacred-expelled-west-bank-eastern-jerusalem/

Netanyahu: UN Silent About Jews Being Massacred, Expelled from West Bank, Eastern Jerusalem - 27 Dec 2016

... Here is the text of Netanyahu’s post: ...

The anti-Israel resolution that just passed in the UN Security Council is based on the argument that Israel is “altering the demographic composition” of Judea and Samaria. The United Nations has consistently ignored the fact that Jews were ethnically cleansed from these territories in 1948, which is why there were no Jews in the area until after 1967. ... (description of cleansing) ...

Not a single Jew remained in any of the territories conquered by the invading Arabs in 1948. The reaction of the United Nations to this reality? Silence.

Another important reminder: The terms of the British Mandate awarded national rights to the Jewish people — and only the Jewish people — in the Land of Israel. The Mandate, which expanded upon the Biblical and historical connection of the Jewish people to its land, was ratified in 1922 by the League of Nations. It was later adopted by the United Nations and until today it is a binding document under international law that defines the international legal status of the Land of Israel.

The United Nations has no legal justification for its decisions, only ignorance and malice.

Kerry has it exactly right. Likud settlement policy has been sabotaging the two-state solution for decades. Calling them out was long overdue.

Kerry is an ignorant jerk. Not a mention of Hamas and their unwillingness to recognize the Jewish state, about the tunnels and the constant barrage of Qassam rockets or how Abbas is sometimes in bad with Hamas and conspires against the Jewish state, no mention of that. Israel and the US should leave and stop funding the UN and Israel shouldn't worry about any outside influence.

Not a single Jew remained in any of the territories conquered by the invading Arabs in 1948. The reaction of the United Nations to this reality? Silence.

If Netanyahu actually said this, it's neither helpful nor accurate. In 1948, the United Nations received complaints of atrocities from all sides. The response was to call for a cease fire. If that constitutes silence, then it applies to all parties. Also, the territories conquered by the Arab states were not part of the self-declared State of Israel which the quote might imply.

Forced integration at all levels of life. It is the only way. It will never happen, but until all their children mix for a few generations and parents live in mixed communities, there will never be peace. Preschool, schools, work, homes, restaurants, military, checkpoints, everywhere.

Or there are other, terrible, options.

The current methods of violence and acting crazy that has been used all my life clearly isn't working.

bass4funk: "Kerry is an ignorant jerk."

No, he is bang on here. Netanyahu demands sympathy from the world for what the Jews suffered, then turns around and spreads suffering on others in very much similar ways. And Netanyahu settling for Trump because he might get rewards while knowing full well the anti-semitic bigots Trump has in his cabinet is proof that Netanyahu cares nothing about what the Jews suffered but only cares about himself. If anyone is an arrogant jerk it's Netanyahu.

The Mandate, which expanded upon the Biblical and historical connection of the Jewish people to its land, was ratified in 1922...

So actual politics are discussed and decided with the bible in mind? Quite disturbing.

I think disturbing is an understatement. What is the difference between this and terrorists adhering to the violent teachings of their instruction manual?

The reasons behind this never ending story all start and end with the decisions made in the era of the unenlightened. Can anyone imagine anyone else agreeing to critical political decisions based off of something written during the era of no clean tap water? Come on!!!

@smith

Very well put.

Time and time again l've found that those who confuse Israel and Judaism are either anti-Arab bigots or anti-Semites. Different names for essentially the same type of vermin.

Obama and Kerry are fed up with Israel because they know the truth about Netanyahu and his arrogant, two-faced behavior. He isn't interested in peace with the Palestinians at all, hence Kerry's speech.

Netanyahu: Not a single Jew remained in any of the territories conquered by the invading Arabs in 1948. The reaction of the United Nations to this reality? Silence.

albaleo: If Netanyahu actually said this, it's neither helpful nor accurate. In 1948, the United Nations received complaints of atrocities from all sides. The response was to call for a cease fire.

Then I take Netanyahu's 'silence about the ethnic cleansing of Jews from the territories' to mean silence on the part of the current-day UN in their resolution against the settlements and on the discussion justifying that resolution.

Isn't it a little late to be huffing and puffing Kerry and Obama? Really!? With only days left in your administration? Obama did the right thing by not vetoing the resolution, but has for 8 years done the wrong thing by keeping and increasing the money train and weapons, including bunker busters. It's like giving a drug addict free drugs and expecting them to stop using.

It is often overlooked but the founders of modern day Israel would be today classified as terrorists. Pays to read history sometimes.

If there was ever the wrong use of a word, it's settlements.

So actual politics are discussed and decided with the bible in mind? Quite disturbing.

Every country in the region has political discussions with the bible or koran in mind, and that is why none of them can get along.

Two cheers for Kerry's parting shot. Had it been an opening shot it would have done more to end Israel's apartheid system.

No, he is bang on here.

Who the hell is Kerry to dictate how Israel and the Palestinians should deal and handle any peace agreements as an outsider, the guy is...I will just digress, after next month we won't see Lurch again, so there is no point in hammering the nut job!

Netanyahu demands sympathy from the world for what the Jews suffered, then turns around and spreads suffering on others in very much similar ways.

No, this was not about Israel or the US at all, this was about Obama sticking it to Netanyahu, pure and simple, Obama doesn't like him, was furious about the new Trump picked Ambassador and for one last Hurrah, Obama wanted to spit in the eye of our closest ally, great job. January 20th can't come soon enough!

And Netanyahu settling for Trump because he might get rewards while knowing full well the anti-semitic bigots Trump has in his cabinet is proof that Netanyahu cares nothing about what the Jews suffered but only cares about himself. If anyone is an arrogant jerk it's Netanyahu.

You just described Obama in a nutshell. Kerry has not said one word about Hamas or about their unwillingness to recognize Israel or the constant barrage of Qassam rocket attacks and as typical, this WH just doesn't get it. Tell you what's going to happen. Obama and Kerry just opened up Pandora's box and if anything, this whole thing will backfire in their face and Israel will show the UN (and rightfully so) the middle finger and press on with building more settlements that's what's going to happen and good on them for giving them the finger.

Crazy: "Kerry has it exactly right."

Or, oh my...

Gohmert: Obama administration supports bullies over victims:

https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=N7leAqSR634

Obama wanted to spit in the eye of our closest ally, great job

Closest ey? Do pray tell answer me this. When has israel ever sent its soldiers to help in americas wars of conquest? Go on. I'll wait.

Do pray tell answer me this. When has israel ever sent its soldiers to help in americas wars of conquest? Go on. I'll wait.

They have not, you are right. I get your point, but that have helped us in other ways, specifically when it involves terrorism and security, the Israelis are top notch when it comes to that, also when it comes to handling intelligence on attacks or terror threats. The Israelis have been very instrumental in this regard. So just because they didn't help in one facet, doesn't mean they can't help in another.

Kerry has not said one word about Hamas or about their unwillingness to recognize Israel or the constant barrage of Qassam rocket attacks

How far do you look for your information? Here are some quotes from Kerry about Hamas:

I cannot condemn strongly enough the actions of Hamas in so brazenly firing rockets in multiple numbers in the face of a goodwill effort to operate a cease-fire,

Israel has right to defend itself.

purposefully trying to play politics in order to gain greater followers…and use the innocent lives of civilians

US gives Israel billion$$ of aid every year - so they're allowed to criticize every now and then - Israel does not get a blank check with an automatic rubberstamp

Looks like Netenyahu is toast anyway....

http://www.timesofisrael.com/report-netanyahu-to-be-investigated-for-bribery-fraud/

Lot of kerry's ramblings would seem to apply to Sanctuary City Concept. Actual peace process should require from Israel's enemies the absence of - The means to resist, and - The will to resist. The Two State Solution should require Iran, Syria, Iraq , or perhaps France, Nigeria or other nation to set aside part of their home land for those termed Palestinian. Nations are sovereign or they are not.

How far do you look for your information? Here are some quotes from Kerry about Hamas:

How long ago were those comments made and on what basis?

The point is, this will not go well and anyone with half a brain knows this was a jab from Obama and it was totally personal, you have to be mistaken if Israel is going to just accept this and let the UN dictate how it should handle its religious sites and settlements it's just not going to happen, they'll just double-down on their positions the UN can't do a darn thing about it. Whatever you may think about Bibi, Obama went way over his thin-skinned head with his personal hate of Bibi to screw him over, he just may have started another ME meltdown before he leaves office. January 20th can't come soon enough.

“Israelis do not need to be lectured about the importance of peace by foreign leaders,” Netanyahu said...

Well, very clearly it seems they do.

Huckabee blasts Kerry's speech: 'Betrayal' to Israel :

https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=0dNBEVW2PUI

The Palestinians long ago invalidated any form of justice in their position decades ago through their means of cowardly resistance (terrorism): Blowing up airliners, rolling wheelchair bound passengers cruise ships and executing athletes at the Munich Olympics left them groundless in their claims of any moral position.

Of course, Palestinian cheerleading millennials know nothing about any of this because it all happened before Facebook. . . .

Palestinians were just folks until Israel disenfranchised them.

Israel can either be Jewish or democratic, it cannot be both

But, but, but. . . . aren't democrats suppose to be all about supporting multiculturalism?

What hypocrites.

Of course, Palestinian cheerleading millennials know nothing about any of this because it all happened before Facebook. . . .

Oh, the irony here, you claiming millennials somehow aren't aware of what came before the advent of Facebook, while you, a supposed college educated person, seem oblivious to the fact that opposition to Israel's continued expansion into territories that were never really theirs -- at least not outside of nationalism-tainted religious dogma -- has been around since Arabs first heard about the unmitigated $#!+ show the 1917 Balfour Declaration would inevitably set in motion.

RE: Israel can either be Jewish or democratic, it cannot be both

But, but, but. . . . aren't democrats suppose to be all about supporting multiculturalism?

But, but, but . . . Aren't New Mexico State graduates supposed to be able to recognize the difference between Judaism, a religion, and democracy, a political system, before spewing square-peg-round-hole nonsense about multiculturalism? At least Lobos know the difference.

albaleoDEC. 29, 2016 - 09:25AM JST If Netanyahu actually said this, it's neither helpful nor accurate. In 1948, the United Nations received complaints of atrocities from all sides. The response was to call for a cease fire. If that constitutes silence, then it applies to all parties. Also, the territories conquered by the Arab states were not part of the self-declared State of Israel which the quote might imply.

Until settlement takes place, U.S. should stop funding Israel of 38 billion for next 10 years.