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U.S. NEWS Thursday 29 december 2016
Unsettled lence and terrorism against

Continued from Front Israelis, most of his speech
focused on Israel. He said
the two-state solution, the
Nor was it clear what im- basis for all serious peace
pact Kerry’s speech, com- talks for years, was “now
ing in the final days of the in serious jeopardy,” and
administration, might have. called Netanyahu’s’ gov-
Netanyahu expressed con- ernment “the most right-
cern that a French-hosted wing in Israel’s history.”
summit next month could He invoked the wide-
lead to an international spread concern that the
framework that the U.N. growing Arab population
Security Council might in Israel and the Palestin-
then codify with Obama’s ian territories will eventu-
assent, boxing Israel in. ally make Jews a minority
Yet Kerry seemed to rule in Israel, creating a demo-
out the possibility Obama graphic crisis for Israel un-
would take more parting less there’s a separate Pal-
shots, such as promoting estinian state.
that type of U.N. resolution “The settler agenda is de-
or recognizing Palestinian fining the future of Israel.
statehood. And their stated purpose is
The diplomatic fracas clear: They believe in one
erupted last week when state,” Kerry said.
the U.S., in a departure The U.S, the Palestinians
from past policy, decid- and most of the world op- Secretary of State John Kerry speaks at the State Department, in Washington, Wednesday, Dec.
ed to abstain rather than pose Israeli settlement con- 28, 2016.
veto a U.N. Security Coun- struction in the West Bank Associated Press
cil resolution calling Israeli and east Jerusalem, terri-
settlements in the West tories captured by Israel in
Bank and east Jerusalem 1967 and claimed by the
a violation of international Palestinians for an inde-
law. Israel was incensed, pendent state. But Israel’s
and on Wednesday, Ne- government argues previ-
tanyahu claimed Israel has ous construction freezes
“absolute, indispensable failed to advance a peace
evidence” the U.S. actually deal and that the future
spearheaded the resolu- of the settlements — now
tion. home to 600,000 Israelis —
Netanyahu offered what must be resolved in direct
he called proof of U.S. col- talks between Israelis and
lusion: a document, leaked Palestinians.
to an Egyptian newspa- While Israel’s Arab popula-
per, that purports to be a tion has citizenship rights,
Palestinian account of a the roughly 2.5 million Pal-
December meeting be- estinians living in the oc-
tween top U.S. and Pales- cupied West Bank do not.
tinian officials. But White Israel has annexed east
House spokesman Ned Jerusalem, where Palestin-
Price called it a “total fab- ians have residency rights
rication” and added: “This but few have citizenship, in
meeting never occurred.” a move not internationally
Palestinian President Mah- recognized.
moud Abbas responded to Kerry said a future deal
the speech by reaffirming would have to ensure se-
that he’s ready to resume cure borders for Israel and
peace talks if Israel halts a Palestinian state formed
settlement construction. in territories Israel captured
Kerry, unveiling a six-part in the 1967 Mideast war,
outline of what a future with “mutually agreed,
peace deal could look equivalent swaps.” He
like, deviated from the tra- said both countries must
ditional U.S. message that fully recognize each other,
foreign powers shouldn’t ensure access to religious
impose a solution. His out- sites and relinquish all other
line tracked closely with existing claims. Kerry also
principles long assumed called for assistance to
to be part of an eventual help Palestinian refugees.
deal, and Kerry insisted Yet he offered fewer de-
he was merely describing tails about how to get to
what’s emerged as points such a deal, given the fail-
of general agreement. ure of so many previous at-
Though Kerry faulted Pal- tempts, including his own
estinian leaders for insuf- nine-month effort that col-
ficiently condemning vio- lapsed in 2014. q