Tag Archive for John Kerry

| April 22, 2014
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U.S. Supreme Court reviews president’s refusal to abide by Jerusalem birthplace law

 

The U.S. Supreme Court will review the State Department’s refusal to enforce a 2002 law that allows U.S. citizens born in Jerusalem to have Israel listed as their birthplace.

By Reuters

 

The U.S. Supreme Court on Monday agreed to weigh the constitutionality of a law that was designed to allow American citizens born in Jerusalem – the historic holy city claimed by Israelis and Palestinians – to have Israel listed as their birthplace on passports.

Jerusalem

American passports do not recognize Jerusalem as being in Israel. – Photo; AFP

The case concerns a long-standing U.S. foreign policy that the president – and not Congress – has sole authority to state who controls Jerusalem.

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Category: The Diaspora | Tags: , , , ,
| April 16, 2014
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NYT calls on White House to drop peace efforts

New York Times reports how Obama & Kerry should ‘move on & devote their attention to other major int’l challenges like the Ukraine.’

By

 

U.S. President Barak Obama and Secretary of State John Kerry should drop their Middle East peace efforts and “move on and devote their attention to other major international challenges like Ukraine,” the New York Times wrote in an editorial on Tuesday.

Kerry and Lieberman


Kerry, right, with Foreign Minister Avigdor Lieberman in Washington last week. – Photo: AFP

Instead of continuing to promote peace negotiations, the paper wrote, the United States should “lay down the principles it believes must undergird a two-state solution, should Israelis and Palestinians ever decide to make peace.” Continue Reading »

Category: The Diaspora | Tags: , , , ,
| April 9, 2014
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Jerusalem ‘deeply disappointed’ by Kerry’s biased remarks on peace talks

 

In 1st response to Kerry’s pointing blame only on Israel for talks failure, Jerusalem says, ‘remarks hurt the negotiation’ process.

By i24news

 

Israel said on Wednesday that it was “deeply disappointed” by Secretary of State John Kerry’s remarks Tuesday, placing the blame for derailing the negotiations on Israel’s approval of more Jewish settlements in East Jerusalem, The New York Times reported.

Israeli protestors hold signs during a demonstration outside US Secretary of State John Kerry's hotel in Jerusalem, against the release by Israel of Palestinian prisoners, on March 31, 2014 ( Ahmad Gharabli (AFP) )

Israeli protestors hold signs during a demonstration outside US Secretary of State John Kerry’s hotel in Jerusalem, against the release by Israel of Palestinian prisoners, on March 31, 2014 – Photo: AFP/Ahmad Gharabli

Israel responded that it was the Palestinians who had “violated their fundamental commitments” by applying last week to join 15 international agencies of the UN. Continue Reading »

Category: Mid-East News | Tags: , , , ,
| April 2, 2014
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NYT Reports: Kerry steps back from peace talks

 

New York Times quotes senior American official as saying the White House believes Kerry should allow Israel & the Palestinians to work through the current deadlock themselves.

By Ynetnews and agencies

 

US Secretary of State John Kerry’s decision to cancel a Tuesday night meeting with Palestinian President Mahmoud Abbas is indicative of the Obama administration’s “growing impatience” with the deadlocked peace talks, the New York Times reported Wednesday. The newspaper quoted a senior US official as saying that the Americans believe Israel and the Palestinians should find a way out of this latest deadlock themselves, and that Kerry’s current efforts had been exhausted. Continue Reading »

Category: Mid-East News | Tags: , , ,
| April 1, 2014
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Palestinian Authority Threatens Kerry With Ultimatum Over Releasing Terrorists

 

Ramallah tells US: Get Israel to release imprisoned terrorists within 24 hours – or we will turn to the UN instead.

By AFP and Arutz Sheva Staff

 

The Palestinian Authority on Monday gave US Secretary of State John Kerry 24 hours to get Israel to release the fourth batch of terrorists, according to AFP, after which they will resume moves to seek international recognition.

Exasperated. John Kerry (illustrative) – Reuters

“If we don’t get an answer from John Kerry on the prisoners tonight, we’ll begin to ask for membership in all UN agencies tomorrow,” Palestinian MP Mustafa Barghuti told AFP following a top-level leadership meeting in Ramallah which took place as Kerry arrived in Israel. Continue Reading »

Category: Mid-East News | Tags: , , , ,
| March 27, 2014
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PA official: If Abbas won’t bend to US, Israeli pressure he may meet Arafat’s fate

Kerry confers with Jordan’s King Abdullah before meeting with PA President. Officials say Kerry wants Abbas to agree to extend talks until end of year.

By KHALED ABU TOAMEH
 

 

Palestinian officials in Ramallah said Wednesday that they don’t rule out the possibility that Palestinian Authority President Mahmoud Abbas would agree to the extension of the peace talks with Israel after the nine-month deadline set by the US Administration expires at the end of April.

John Kerry and Mahmoud Abbas. - Photo: Reuters

John Kerry and Mahmoud Abbas. – Photo: Reuters

The officials said that US Secretary of State John Kerry has been exerting pressure on Abbas to agree to the extension of the talks at least until the end of the year. Continue Reading »

Category: Mid-East News | Tags: , ,
| March 23, 2014
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Report Suggests US May Offer to Release Pollard

White House looking for ‘creative solutions’, as Kerry ‘very concerned’ that talks between Israel and PA could break down altogether.

By Yaakov Levi

 

American officials are very concerned that the talks between Israel and Palestinian Authority could break down totally. The two sides are deadlocked, and no progress has been made for weeks, the officials were quoted as saying by Israel Radio – and the administration of President Barack Obama is feverishly trying to come up with a formula that will keep both sides talking.

John Kerry and Mahmoud Abbas meet in Paris, February 2014 – Reuters

The talks, which began last summer, were supposed to have concluded at the beginning of April with a framework for negotiations, to be written by Secretary of State John Kerry. Continue Reading »

Category: Israel News | Tags: ,
| March 19, 2014
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Kerry ‘Protests’ to Netanyahu Over Ya’alon’s Criticism of American Policies

Secretary John Kerry, directed the State Department to issue a strong complaint to Jerusalem after Defense Minister slammed US policy on Iran in public.

By AFP and Arutz Sheva Staff

 

In a rare move, Secretary of State John Kerry protested to Israeli Prime Minister Binyamin Netanyahu on Wednesday over Defense Minister Moshe Ya’alon’s strong criticism of US foreign policy, according to AFP. 

Ya’alon slammed the US and the West on Tuesday for its “soft” approach toward the possibility of a nuclear Iran.

“Everyone knows Iran is lying,” Ya’alon stated. “But the pampered West is satisfied with postponing conflict [with Iran over the nuclear program].” Continue Reading »

Category: Israel News | Tags: , , ,
| March 3, 2014
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Netanyahu lands in Washington saying, ‘It takes 3 to dance the Mideast Tango’

Israel’s PM Netanyahu is to meet Kerry, Obama & Biden on Monday, and is then scheduled to address the AIPAC conference on Tuesday.

By

 

Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu arrived late Sunday in Washington, where he was scheduled to meet U.S. President Barack Obama and address the AIPAC conference.
Netanyahu

Netanyahu addressing journalists during a press conference with U.S. Secretary of State John Kerry. September 15, 2013 – Photo: AFP

Upon landing, Netanyahu told reporters that he was committed to negotiations for a final settlement and was waiting to see proof that the Palestinians were as well.

“It takes at least three to dance the Middle East tango,” Netanyahu said.  

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Category: Israel News | Tags: , , , , ,
| February 27, 2014
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PA Report: PA President Angry at Kerry, Threatened to Terminate Peace-Talks

PA-based newspaper: US Sec. of St. John Kerry demanded that Abbas recognize Jewish State, annex 10 Jewish communities & drop demands on the Jordan Valley.

By Elad Benari

 

Palestinian Authority (PA) Chairman Mahmoud Abbas became very angry during a meeting with U.S. Secretary of State John Kerry last week and threatened to end the negotiations with Israel, NRG/Maariv reported on Wednesday, citing the PA-based Al-Quds newspaper.

Kerry and Abbas meet in Paris – Reuters

According to the report, Abbas fumed when, during a meeting with Kerry in Paris, the top U.S. diplomat presented a new offer which, according to senior PA officials, adopted the Israeli positions for a peace agreement. Continue Reading »

Category: Israel News | Tags: , ,
| February 20, 2014
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Kerry: Jewish Evictions from West Bank May Not be Required

John Kerry suggests that Jewish residents of Judea and Samaria, in a future peace agreement, may not be evicted from their homes.

By Elad Benari

 

U.S. Secretary of State John Kerry, who is trying to push Israel and the Palestinian Authority (PA) to sign a peace agreement, is hinting that Jewish residents of Judea and Samaria may not be evicted from their homes when an agreement is signed.

John Kerry – Reuters

In an interview with journalist Ilana Dayan on Channel 2, Kerry was asked what will be the personal price that residents of Judea and Samaria will have to pay for peace. Continue Reading »

Category: Israel News | Tags: , , ,
| February 14, 2014
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U.S. Congressman Franks: ‘Israel not an Occupier’

Congressman Trent Franks outraged over White House’s ‘adversarial’ stance towards Israel, says this administration has become Iran’s ‘lobbyist’.

By Ari Soffer

The United States has become ‘almost adversarial’ towards Israel under the Obama administration, according to Congressman Trent Franks (R-AZ).

Congressman Trent Franks (R-AZ) – Photo: Arutz Sheva

Speaking to Arutz Sheva at a Washington D.C. security conference, Franks contradicted a recent claim by Israel’s ambassador to the US that US Secretary of State John Kerry wasn’t threatening Israel when he warned of boycotts in the event that current negotiations with the Palestinian Authority fall through. The conference, entitled “American Security and the Iranian Bomb: Analyzing Threats at Home and Abroad,” saw several prominent members of Congress and former CIA Director James Woolsey discuss the threat posed to the US by the Islamic Republic. Continue Reading »

Category: Israel News | Tags: , , , , , ,
| February 10, 2014
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Palestinian Minister: Palestine Will Have Sovereignty Over Old City, Including Kotel

Palestinian Authority Minister of Holy Places is demanding sovereignty over the entire Old City of Jerusalem, including City of David & the Kotel.

By David Lev

 

 

A top Palestinian Authority official said that the PA was demanding sovereignty over all areas of Jerusalem Israel liberated in the Six Day War, including the Kotel, the Western Wall. Speaking to Channel Ten, Mahmoud al-Habbash, Minister of Holy Places in the PA, said that “there will be no peace until the end of the Israeli occupation that began in 1967. Every piece of land that Israel conquered then belongs to the Palestinians.” Continue Reading »

Category: Israel News | Tags: , , , , ,
| February 1, 2014
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Kerry brings up Israel boycott – AGAIN – if peace deal not made

 

US secretary of state makes another such remark, now at Munich Security Conference.

Deputy defense minister Danon condemns  Kerry’s remarks, responding that Israel will “not negotiate with gun to its head.”

By REUTERS, JPOST.COM STAFF

 

 

US Secretary of State John Kerry believes Israel could face an economic boycott if the current round of peace negotiations with the Palestinians do not lead to a final deal. Kerry made the remarks on Saturday at the Munich Security Conference.

US Secretary of State John Kerry at the Munich Security Conference in Germany Photo: REUTERS

US Secretary of State John Kerry at the Munich Security Conference in Germany – Photo: REUTERS

“There’s an increasing de-legitimization campaign that has been building up. Continue Reading »

Category: Israel News | Tags: , ,
| January 30, 2014
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U.S. Amb. Shapiro explains: Kerry’s proposal came from Israeli & Palestinian demands

 

Comments by US envoy to Israel contradict with Prime Minister’s assertion that Kerry’s framework peace agreement demands reflect “American positions”.

Amb. Shapiro reports “very little” of framework paper will be purely authored by Americans.

By HERB KEINON
 

 

The paper Secretary of State John Kerry is developing to form the basis for further Israeli-Palestinian negotiations is not solely composed of American ideas, but is drawn from what the Israelis and Palestinians presented, US Ambassador Dan Shapiro said on Wednesday.

Ambassador Dan Shapiro - Photo: Courtesy of US embassy Israel

Ambassador Dan Shapiro – Photo: Courtesy of US embassy Israel

“As we continue our work at this stage to shape a framework proposal, it is very much drawn from ideas the parties have put on the table themselves,” he said in Tel Aviv at the annual international conference of the Institute for National Security Studies. Continue Reading »

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