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John Kerry remarks on Israel-Palestine conflict ‘soft-core Zionist’ agenda

Scott Rickard

Former US Secretary of State John Kerry’s recently published remarks about Israel’s unwillingness to end hostilities with Palestinians are only a watered-down version of the Zionist agenda, says Florida-based analyst Scott Rickard.

In the hour-long speech in December 2016, Kerry—still as secretary of state—rebuked Israel for being unproductive in peace talks.

“When the Intifada took place [in 2015] they (Palestinians) delivered non-violence in the West Bank,” he said.

“This is overlooked by the general [Israeli] populations because it is not a topic of discussion,” Kerry continues. “Why? Because the majority of the [Israeli cabinet] has publicly declared they are not ever for a Palestinian state.”

A recording of the speech, recently released by Israeli media, shows that Kerry made the remarks at a conference in Dubai attended by some of the Middle East’s most influential policymakers. It was not clear if Kerry knew he was being recorded.

“It is encouraging to hear the former US secretary of state John Kerry stating some of the truth,” Rickard told Press TV on Monday, noting that [Israeli Prime Minister] Netanyahu’s regime has indeed been “rejecting” all proposals to end the years-long conflict with Palestinians.

However, he said, the fact that Kerry was including the names of “war criminals” such as former Israeli President Shimon Perez and others among those who truly worked for a solution as a sign that the American official was just uttering the same old Zionist agenda we have been hearing for years.

“Sadly, what we see here is yet again a very soft-core Zionist commentary that in some respects it is accurate but in other respects it is very superficial,” he argued.

Nevertheless, Rickard said news like this further exposed the Israeli regime’s opposition to any solution that would end their occupation of Palestinian lands.

Kerry had criticized the Tel Aviv regime’s lack of interest in peace in the past as well.

“Friends need to tell each other the hard truths, and friendships require mutual respect,” he said.

The speech drew fire from Netanyahu and many members of the US Congress, including Republican Senator John McCain and Democratic Senator Chuck Schumer.


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