‘Kerry is putting pressure only on Israel’

High-level Israeli criticism of U.S. Secretary of State John Kerry continued on Monday, in the wake of Kerry’s assertion this weekend at the Munich Security Conference that Israel might suffer boycotts and further delegimization if the current peace talks with the Palestinians fail.

Communications and Homefront Defense Minister Gilad Erdan (Likud) said on Sunday, „It would be expected from someone who’s supposed to be a fair and objective intermediary to also tell the Palestinian side about the price they will pay if they continue to deny the right of the Jewish people to their own nation, continue their rejectionist path and if their official media channels and education system continue to incite against the State of Israel.”

„These are things we have not seen from the American mediator, who is putting pressure only on the prime minister of Israel and the [Israeli] government,” Erdan said.

At the Munich Security Conference on Monday, Defense Minister Moshe Ya’alon mentioned the ongoing negotiations with the Palestinians.

„I hope we reach a deal with the Palestinians,” Ya’alon said, before adding, „If not, we’ll manage.”

Israeli officials feel the Americans have sided with the Palestinians in the negotiations, with one source in Jerusalem saying „Israel will not be harmed if no deal is made.”

Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu opened Sunday’s cabinet meeting by saying that „Attempts to impose a boycott on the State of Israel are immoral and unjust. Moreover, they will not achieve their goal. First of all, they will cause Palestinian officials to further adhere to their intransigent positions and thus push peace further away. Secondly, no pressure will cause me to concede the vital interests of the State of Israel, especially the security of Israel’s citizens. Because of these two reasons, threats to boycott the State of Israel will not achieve their goal.”

Two government ministers went further on Sunday, directly attacking Kerry’s remarks. „I am bothered by Kerry’s basic approach, which does not seem responsible enough or fair enough,” said Housing and Construction Minister Uri Ariel (Habayit Hayehudi). „Most of the nation believes Kerry’s approach is not balanced. I think there needs to be a fair and equitable negotiation, anything else is unacceptable. We cannot endanger Israel, nor can we threaten her with boycotts or ostracism.”

Strategic Affairs Minister Yuval Steinitz (Likud) said: „Kerry’s words are hurtful, unfair and unacceptable. One cannot expect the State of Israel to participate in negotiations with a gun to its head, when we are discussing the most critical aspects of our national and security interests. Furthermore, his words could harm the talks, because if the Palestinians hear that Israel may be hurt or destroyed if the talks fail, it gives the Palestinian side additional motivation to cause the negotiations to fail.”

Deputy Minister of Transportation Tzipi Hotovely (Likud) called on Netanyahu to take a tough stance against Kerry. According to her, Kerry and U.S. President Barack Obama are acting in a one-sided manner, putting pressure exclusively on Israel.

However, MK Nitzan Horowitz (Meretz) took a differing position, saying that „Israel would also manage without Minister Ya’alon.”

„After he sabotaged relations with the United States, he is continuing to harm Israeli interests,” Horowitz added, referencing the recent publication of critical remarks Ya’alon made about Kerry. „A peace deal will ensure Israel’s future as a Jewish and democratic state as well as its social and economic prosperity. If Ya’alon does not understand this, he is not fit to continue in his position, and we would certainly be able to manage better without him.”

MK Merav Michaeli (Labor) said: „Netanyahu boasts of historical vision, but he is actually operating from historical and political blindness and leading us toward a collision with an iceberg. He is fighting with our friends again and exposing us to the risk of economic sanctions that pale in comparison to those imposed on Iran. Israel’s security is just an illusion if a diplomatic arrangement is not reached, and the same is true for economic security. It is up to Netanyahu to reconsider, to take responsibility for the country that he leads, and to stop being the prime minister for the settlers, but that of all Israeli citizens.”

Environmental Protection Minister Amir Peretz (Hatnuah) defended Kerry, saying, „Political debate is legitimate, but the extreme attacks on the American secretary of state are irresponsible.”

U.S. State Department spokeswoman Jen Psaki responded to comments from Israeli officials, defending Kerry’s record of support for Israel: „Secretary Kerry has a proud record of over three decades of steadfast support for Israel’s security and well-being, including staunch opposition to boycotts. Just last year, while briefing foreign ministers at an EU conference in Vilnius on his peacemaking efforts, he urged them to refrain from implementing these types of measures.”

Psaki added that at the Munich Security Conference, Kerry „spoke forcefully in defense of Israel’s interests, as he consistently has throughout his public life.”

According to her, he simply „described some well-known and previously stated facts about what is at stake for both sides if this process fails, including the consequences for the Palestinians. His only reference to a boycott was a description of actions undertaken by others that he has always opposed.”

Kerry „expected opposition and difficult moments in the process, but he also expects all parties to accurately portray his record and statements,” Psaki wrote in a statement.

The Israeli and Palestinian negotiation teams met with Kerry in Munich on Sunday. Justice Minister Tzipi Livni (Hatnuah) and attorney Isaac Molho were present from the Israeli side, Saeb Erekat represented the Palestinian Authority and Martin Indyk represented the United States. The sides discussed the emerging framework proposal as well as the possibility of extending the negotiating window until the end of 2014.

At the Munich Security Conference on Sunday, Ya’alon said, „Our interest is solving the conflict. Unfortunately, I don’t see a leadership on the Palestinian side that is ready to say that if we reach a compromise on territory it would be the end of claims.

„In the past, when the Palestinians had generous offers from [former Prime Minister Ehud] Barak and [former Prime Minister Ehud] Olmert, they refused them. Abu Mazen [Abbas] is not interested in the negotiations, he is in the negotiations process now only because Kerry made him come to the table, and his agreement to do so depended on the prisoner release.

„Our questions are clear: Whether you, Abu Mazen, are ready in any final settlement based on territorial compromise, agreed lines — to recognize our right to exist as a nation state of the Jewish people — yes or no. We got a very clear answer: never. He reiterated it two weeks ago.”

Ya’alon continued: „The second question was about the end of conflict [and the] finality of claims. And here we come to the third element, which is the right of return. ,.. He said the right of return is an individual, natural right; no leader can negotiate it.”

„I do not sanctify land. But I am not ready to talk about one inch unless we get the approval of the Palestinian Authority … that the framework of the negotiations will include the recognition of our right to exist as a nation-state of the Jewish people, giving up the right of return, and addressing our security needs,” Ya’alon said.

„Hopefully, we’ll get it,” Ya’alon said, referring to a peace agreement. „If not, we’ll manage.”

Meanwhile, Palestinian Authority President Mahmoud Abbas told The New York Times this weekend that Israeli troops can remain in the territory of a future Palestinian state for five years, not three, as he had previously stated.

This proposal was one of several notable statements made during the interview, including Abbas revealing that he has proposed to Kerry that an American-led NATO force could patrol a future Palestinian state indefinitely. NATO troops, he said, would be positioned throughout the territory, at all crossings, and within Jerusalem.

According to the Palestinian leader, the NATO troops would serve as protection for a demilitarized Palestinian state, as well as ensure Israel’s security. „We will be demilitarized,” Abbas told the Times. „Do you think we have any illusion that we can have any security if the Israelis do not feel they have security?”

However, when asked about recognizing Israel as a Jewish state, he told The Times, „This is out of the question.”