Prime Minister Binyamin Netanyahu did damage control on the Israel-US relationship in his speech in honor of the Knesset's 65th birthday, following Defense Minister Moshe Ya'alon's comments about US Secretary of State John Kerry.
"Even when we have disagreements with the US, they are always on the heart of the matter, not on the merits of an individual," Netanyahu said in an apparent dig at Ya'alon, who, according to a Yediot Aharonot report, accused Kerry of being "messianic" and "delusional" when it comes to negotiations between Israel and the Palestinians.
The United States on Tuesday rebuked Israel for comments attributed to Israel's defense minister. "The remarks of the Defense Minister if accurate are offensive and inappropriate especially given all that the United States is doing to support Israel's security needs," State Department spokeswoman Jen Psaki said in a brief statement that constituted a rare rebuke to close ally Israel.
- "Secretary Kerry and his team including General (John) Allen have been working day and night to try to promote a secure peace for Israel because of the Secretary's deep concern for Israel's future," she added. "To question his motives and distort his proposals is not something we would expect from the Defense Minister of a close ally."
Relations between the US and Israel are "intimate and are of high significance for us. The US is our greatest friend and most important ally, and when there are divisions we smooth them over inside the room [behind closed doors], including with Secretary of State Kerry, with whom I hold many talks about the future of Israel," the statement said.
Ya'alon vowed to continue to safeguard the security of Israeli citizens with "determination, responsibility, and sound judgment."
"The US is our greatest ally," Netanyahu stated in his speech. "We are partners in goals and joint interests: regional stability, the war on terror, growth, security and peace. We are making efforts to bring security to the region and stand up for our interests."
The prime minister said that true peace depends on recognition of Israel as the Jewish state along with security arrangements that will ensure that "the land in the Palestinians' hands will not turn into terrorist launching pads."
However, he said, those aims must be reached "while respecting our important connection with the US."
"We stand up for our national interests and one of those is continuing to cultivate our connection with our ally, the US," Netanyahu added.
President Shimon Peres thanked US President Barack Obama "for his full responsiveness to our security and intelligence needs" and Kerry for his "determined efforts to make peace."
"There is no doubt [Obama] wants to see a peaceful Middle East," Peres told the Knesset. "Our deep friendship with the US is a central component of Israel's security and an impetus for peace in the Middle East."
Opposition leader Isaac Herzog (Labor) also referred to Ya'alon's comments, saying that the relationship with the US is essential and "we shouldn't call them 'messianic' or 'delusional' or any other derogatory nicknames."
Yaakov Lappin contributed to this report.
http://www.jpost.com/National-News/Netanyahu-does-damage-control-reaffirms-friendship-with-US-after-Yaalons-dig-at-Kerry-338158
14/1/14
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Related:
Israeli defense minister apologizes to Kerry...
ReplyDeleteIsraeli Minister of Defence Moshe Yaalon apologized Tuesday to U.S. Secretary of State John Kerry for accusing the American of having an “obsession and a messianic feeling” towards the Middle East.
Yaalon said in a statement that he “had no intention to cause any offence to the secretary, and he apologizes if the secretary was offended by words attributed to the minister.”
“Israel and the United states share a common goal to advance the peace talks between Israel and the Palestinians led by Secretary Kerry,” he added.
Israel’s biggest-selling newspaper quoted Yaalon earlier as saying “John Kerry - who has come to us determined and is acting out of an incomprehensible obsession and a messianic feeling - cannot teach me a single thing about the conflict with the Palestinians.”
“The American plan for security arrangements that was shown to us... provides neither security nor peace,” Yaalon added.
He further said the plan “isn’t worth the paper it was written on,” accusing Kerry of being naive and implying that he is a nuisance.
The United States denounced Yaloon’s statements as “offensive.”
“The remarks of the Israeli Defense Minister, if accurate, are offensive and inappropriate, especially in light of everything that the United States is doing to support Israel’s security needs,” White House spokesman Jay Carney said.
“Secretary Kerry and his team have been working nonstop in their efforts to promote a secure peace for Israel because of the deep concern the United States has and a deep commitment the United States has for and to Israel’s future and the Israeli people,” Carney added.
He said questioning “Kerry’s motives and distort proposals is not something that we would except from the defense minister of a close ally."
Kerry has tried to push Israelis and Palestinians towards an elusive peace deal after decades of conflict, shuttling back and forth in 10 visits to the region since March.
His proposals include a security plan for the Jordan Valley, where the West Bank borders Jordan, including the use of satellite technology to monitor the situation on the ground, local media say.
Israel insists on maintaining a long-term military presence in the Jordan Valley, but the Palestinians reject that, instead urging deployment of an international force.
Kerry was reported by Yediot as saying the security plan would make Israel’s eastern border “the quietest in the world, more than the border between Canada and the United States.”
Peace talks, which Kerry kick-started in July after a three-year hiatus, have been shrouded in secrecy thanks to a U.S.-imposed media blackout.
[With AFP and Reuters]
http://english.alarabiya.net/en/News/middle-east/2014/01/14/Israel-Defense-Minister-lambasts-Kerry-over-security-plan-.html
15/1/14