Kerry said Israel’s continued construction of settlements in disputed areas, and the lack of building permits granted to Palestinians, raise concerns among them about Israel’s long-term plans.
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He called on Israeli Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu to stick to his commitment to the two-state solution and engage in dialogue with the Palestinians.
“Unfortunately, this is what we see: Primarily, the incitement in the Palestinian Authority continues”.
He also charged Israel’s ongoing settlement activity suggests a future annexation of the West Bank territories.
Some 500,000 Israelis have settled in the West Bank and East Jerusalem among 2.4 million Palestinians.
US Secretary of State John Kerry employed unusually stark works to warn Israel that it is heading into a “one-state reality” in which it will be obliged to resume full administrative and military control over the Palestinian West Bank.
Kerry also said without a two-state solution, Israel would be forced into an unsustainable position of perpetual occupation that would be rejected by Palestinians and the global community. He urged both sides to return to the negotiating table.
Kerry has made Israeli-Palestinian peace one of his top priorities, but that process broke apart in April 2014 with no agreement. Following the results of the March 2015 elections, Israel is now reigned by the most right wing government in its history, with many of its members objecting to making concessions to the Palestinians and opposing the two-state solution. He was “effectively supporting and encouraging acts of terror”.
During the Israeli cabinet meeting, Netanyahu also took the chance to condemn the comments of the Swedish Foreign Minister, Margot Wallstrom against the Israeli terrorism, calling them “scandalous”.
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Since October 1, nearly daily assaults and clashes between Palestinians and Israeli soldiers and violence between Palestinians and Israeli settlers have killed 109 Palestinians, including an Israeli Arab, 17 Israelis, an American and an Eritrean, according to an AFP count.
