U.S. Secretary Of State Kerry: ' Israel's Settlement Program Endangers The Peace Process'

Reuters: Kerry says settlements endanger peace, Israel hits back

U.S. Secretary of State John Kerry warned on Wednesday that Israel's building of settlements was endangering Middle East peace, expressing unusually frank frustration with the long-time American ally.

Israeli Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu shot back at Kerry and accused him of showing bias against the Jewish state.

In a 70-minute speech just weeks before the Obama administration hands over to President-elect Donald Trump, Kerry said Israel "will never have true peace" with the Arab world if it does not reach an accord based on Israelis and Palestinians living in their own states.

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WNU Editor: Why the John Kerry speech now .... just weeks away from leaving office .... and with major diplomatic moves now underway over Syria but with no U.S. participation. Your explanation is probably just as good as mine. On a side note .... Russia is not buying John Kerry's plan .... Russia Rejects Kerry’s Proposal for Quartet to Adopt U.S. Principles on Israeli-Palestinian Conflict (Haaretz). It is also safe to say that relations between the current Israeli government and the outgoing Obama administration are now utterly "kaput".

More News On U.S. Secretary Of State Kerry's Speech On The 'Two State Solution

Kerry harshly condemns Israeli settler activity as an obstacle to peace -- Washington Post
John Kerry warns Israel over peace deal with Palestinians -- BBC
Settlement program threatens Israel's future: Kerry -- AFP
Secretary of State John Kerry: Two-state solution in 'serious jeopardy' -- CNN
Two-state Israel-Palestine 'peace solution in jeopardy' -- Al Jazeera
Kerry Calls Netanyahu’s Settlements Stance a Threat to Peace -- Bloomberg
Kerry: Israeli-Palestinian two state solution 'now in jeopardy' -- DW
2-state solution 'only way' for lasting peace between Israelis, Palestinians - Kerry -- RT
Kerry to Israel: We support you but can't defend ‘right-wing’ agenda -- Politico

U.S. Secretary Of State Kerry Defends The U.S. Decision To Not Veto A UN Resolution On Israeli Settlements

Pushing back on Israel, Kerry defends Obama's UN vote -- AP
Kerry defends US decision not to veto UN resolution against Israeli settlements -- The Guardian
Kerry: U.S. abstained on U.N. vote to save two-state solution in Mideast -- USA Today
Kerry Slams Netanyahu, Defends US Abstention in UN on Israeli Settlements -- Sputnik

Israeli Prime Minister Netanyahu Reacts To U.S. Secretary Of State Kerry's Speech

Kerry's speech biased against Israel: Netanyahu -- Reuters
Kerry speech 'skewed against Israel': Netanyahu -- AFP
Israeli Prime Minister Netanyahu Slams Obama's Middle East Policy -- Sputnik
Netanyahu: Kerry’s Middle East Policy Speech A ‘Great Disappointment' -- CBS
Netanyahu slams Kerry's speech defending UN vote as 'unbalanced' -- FOX News
Netanyahu: Kerry’s speech undermines Israel -- The Hill
Netanyahu: Kerry obsessed with settlements, ignores 'root of conflict' -- Jerusalem Post
Israel Cabinet minister calls Kerry speech 'pathetic' -- AP
Netanyahu: Kerry's speech 'biased' against Israel, obsessive about settlements (VIDEO) -- RT
Kerry’s Mid-East speech will ‘ensure chaos lasts after Obama admin’ – Israeli minister -- RT
White House races to save Middle East peace process before Trump takes office -- The Guardian

Update: President-elect Trump responds ....

We cannot continue to let Israel be treated with such total disdain and disrespect. They used to have a great friend in the U.S., but.......

— Donald J. Trump (@realDonaldTrump) December 28, 2016

not anymore. The beginning of the end was the horrible Iran deal, and now this (U.N.)! Stay strong Israel, January 20th is fast approaching!

— Donald J. Trump (@realDonaldTrump) December 28, 2016

Trump urges Israel to stay strong and wait for his inauguration (TASS)
Donald Trump urges Israel to 'stay strong' until he takes office; weighs in on UN Israeli settlement vote (ABC News Online)
Trump: ‘Stay strong Israel,’ my inauguration is approaching (The Hill)
Donald Trump Says Obama Administration Treating Israel With ‘Disdain’ (WSJ)