Off Topic: Kerry warns of boycott against Israel if peace deal not reached
Kerry warns of boycott against Israel if peace deal not reached | JPost | Israel News.
LAST UPDATED: 02/01/2014 20:16
US Secretary of State John Kerry believes Israel could face an economic boycott if the current round of peace negotiations with the Palestinians does not lead to a final deal. Kerry made the remarks on Saturday at the Munich Security Conference.
“There’s an increasing de-legitimization campaign that has been building up. People are very sensitive to it. There are talk of boycotts and other kinds of things, Kerry said, referring to the possible failure of the talks.
Economy Minister Naftali Bennett (Bayit Yehudi) reacted strongly to Kerry’s remarks.
“No nation has ever given up its land because of economic threats and we won’t either,” Bennett said.
“Only security will bring economic stability, not a terror state near Ben Gurion Airport,” he added. “We expect our friends in the world to stand by us during attempts at an anti-Semitic boycott of Israel, instead of being their megaphone.”
“Either way, we knew in the past and know today how to stand strong,” Bennett warned.
Deputy Defense Minister, Danny Danon (Likud-Beytenu), also criticized Kerry’s boycott related remarks on Saturday.
“We respect the [US] secretary of state but we will not negotiate with a gun put to our head,” Danon said.
Danon called Kerry’s words an “ultimatum”, and said that true friends do not set ultimatums.
“We will make decisions that protect Israel’s interests,” Danon added, “If we had made decisions according to every boycott threat, we would not be here today.”
Deputy Minister in the Prime Minister’s Office Ofir Akunis (Likud Beytenu) echoed Bennett and Danon’s criticism. “We were here before him [Kerry] and we’ll be here after him.”
“Kerry is using an aggressive policy against Israel, which is not bringing peace any closer,” Akunis added.
On the other side of the political spectrum, MK Nachman Shai (Labor) agreed with Kerry’s boycott fears and said Israel is facing an “economic tsunami” and that boycotts have “passed the point of no return.”
“Together with other sanctions, the international community is starting a joint battle to pressure Israel,” Shai stated. “Our nightmare is coming true and the government refuses to understand that things will never be the same.”
Meretz leader Zehava Gal-On also in line with Kerry’s boycott fear called on Prime Minister Binyamin Netanyahu to stop settlement construction in the West Bank.
“Continuing the occupation and settlements are not acceptable anymore not just to European countries but to banks and private companies,” Gal-On stated. “Their decisions can turn Israel into an outcast country, isolated like Cuba and South Africa.”
“The prime minister needs to wake up, because the world is losing patience and the threat of boycotts on Israel grows from day to day,” Gal-On added.
Along with his boycott warning Kerry remained hopeful that the Obama administration’s effort to broker a peace deal between could succeed.
“I’m not going to sit here and give you a measure of optimism, but I will give you a full measure of commitment,” Kerry said.
The United States hopes to complete a “framework” accord in coming weeks and will then try to negotiate a final peace deal by the end of 2014, a US official said this week, according to a participant in a briefing with American Jewish leaders.
“I am hopeful and we will keep working on it,” Kerry, who despite widespread skepticism is leading the US effort to push the two sides toward a deal, said during remarks at the Munich security conference.
“I believe in the possibility or I wouldn’t pursue this,” he said. “I don’t think we’re being quixotic … We’re working hard because the consequences of failure are unacceptable.”
US envoy Martin Indyk said the framework would address core issues in the conflict, including borders, security, refugees and Jewish settlements, a participant in the briefing said.
Prime Minister Binyamin Netanyahu’s coalition, which includes pro-settler parties, has already shown signs of strain over talks on Palestinian statehood.
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WarSclerotic 
February 1, 2014 at 9:45 PM
Reblogged this on Dead Citizen's Rights Society.
February 1, 2014 at 11:09 PM
Kerry does not understand anything about the Middle East. He would score 0 on the Kerry Middle East Quiz
http://www.madisdead.blogspot.co.il/2014/01/a-mini-5-1-question-quiz-for-secretary.html
The real question is why do we keep tolerating being dictated absurd policies from this ignoramus?
February 1, 2014 at 11:31 PM
Kerry is a miserable character,puppet on strings / part of the present, iilegal US government which has as one of its goals the destruction of Israel. just look at the actions of the WH-gang which is constantly bullying Israel and pushing it further into the Corner…….If only the Israeli leadership had the guts to confront the WH – gang !
The illegal WH-gang is not only opressing Israel – first off all it has transformed the USA into a police-state which could soon be followed by a pure dictatorship ! The WH – gang is further spying on the whole world – when confronted, in their pure arrogance they dont even think about stopping it or apologizing ……The USA has realized Orwells visions….No more home of the brave and free – all gone !
But the WH-gang in fact is stupid, because they think they can crush,
fight and bullyy Israel without cosequences…….They have forgotten that the one and only God has said :” He who curses Israel will be cursed !”
If this illegal present US government is not replaced soon by a legal one of honorable people then I see certain destruction coming for the USA – and this could happen soon. What we see today in the USA is a coup d’etat by a group of people in the background – the WH gang are just puppets on the strings….
February 1, 2014 at 11:42 PM
Maybe you dont like the background of WND, but these guys are trustworthy and according to me, they are the only one independent news site in the USA, talking straight and true and bringing it to the point ! But personally I have lost hope for a positive change in the USA, this train left long ago.. Tragical, because if the USA is going down the drain,, the whole west will suffer a lot – then who will take the place of the USA ! China, Russia ? God have mercy on us ….
February 1, 2014 at 11:52 PM
You are in bad company, Mr Kerry ! The last which cried : ”Dont buy from Jews !” where the Nazis in Germany. But I don think you have the ability to feel ashamed about that – no, you went too far already into pushing the destruction of Israel. But you are fooling yourself, you and the whole WH-gang : it will be the USA which will suffer the most ! You can fool many in this world but you cant fool the one and only God of Israel ! In a twinkle of an eye HE can change everything and then there could be no more USA…….Its so tragical to be forced to speak like that, but I am convinced that fighting Israel willl destroy you !