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Israel "Deeply Disappointed" by Kerry's Remarks on Peace Talks

(New York Times) Isabel Kershner - Israel said on Wednesday that it was "deeply disappointed" by Secretary of State John Kerry's remarks that appeared to lay primary blame on Israel for the crisis in the American-brokered Middle East peace talks. Kerry's remarks "will both hurt the negotiations and harden Palestinian positions," said an official in the Israeli prime minister's office. The official said Kerry "knows that it was the Palestinians who said no to continued direct talks with Israel in November; who said no to his proposed framework for final status talks; who said no to even discussing recognition of Israel as the nation-state of the Jewish people; who said no to a meeting with Kerry himself; and who said no to an extension of the talks." The Israeli official added: "In the understandings reached prior to the talks, Israel did not commit to any limitation on construction. Therefore, the Palestinian claim that building in Jerusalem, Israel's capital, was a violation of the understandings is contrary to the facts. Both the American negotiating team and the Palestinians know full well that Israel made no such commitment."
2014-04-10 00:00:00
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