U.S. angry after Israeli official calls Kerry messianic
Aamer Madhani, USA TODAY4:35 p.m. EST January 14, 2014
51TWEET 58COMMENTEMAILMORE
WASHINGTON — The White House responded angrily Tuesday to comments reportedly made by Israel's defense minister, who was quoted in an Israeli newspaper describing Secretary of State John Kerry's efforts to win an Israeli-Palestinian peace agreement as driven by "misplaced obsession and messianic fervor."
The alleged comments by Israel's Moshe Yaalon, published in Israel's Yediot Ahronoth, were also roundly criticized by Israel's chief negotiator in the peace talks, Tzipi Livni, who said the defense minister's comments were damaging to bilateral relations.
"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 Israeli's security needs," said White House press secretary Jay Carney. "To question Secretary Kerry's motives and distort his proposals is not something we would expect from the defense minister of a close ally."
Yaalon has not commented on the Yediot Ahronoth report, in which he is quoted dismissing the American security plan for the region as "not worth the paper it's written on."
"Secretary of State 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," Yaalon was quoted as saying. "The only thing that can save us is if Kerry wins the Nobel prize and leaves us alone."
The report was published not long after Vice President Biden departed from Israel, where he had traveled this week to attend the funeral of former leader Ariel Sharon and held talks with Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu.
Netanyahu, who has butted heads with President Obama in the past, also criticized Yaalon's reported comments.
"Even when we have disagreements with the United States, they always pertain to the matter at hand, and are not personal," Netanyahu said in parliament.
SHARE 255CONNECT 51TWEET 58COMMENTEMAILMORE
Aamer Madhani, USA TODAY4:35 p.m. EST January 14, 2014
51TWEET 58COMMENTEMAILMORE
WASHINGTON — The White House responded angrily Tuesday to comments reportedly made by Israel's defense minister, who was quoted in an Israeli newspaper describing Secretary of State John Kerry's efforts to win an Israeli-Palestinian peace agreement as driven by "misplaced obsession and messianic fervor."
The alleged comments by Israel's Moshe Yaalon, published in Israel's Yediot Ahronoth, were also roundly criticized by Israel's chief negotiator in the peace talks, Tzipi Livni, who said the defense minister's comments were damaging to bilateral relations.
"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 Israeli's security needs," said White House press secretary Jay Carney. "To question Secretary Kerry's motives and distort his proposals is not something we would expect from the defense minister of a close ally."
Yaalon has not commented on the Yediot Ahronoth report, in which he is quoted dismissing the American security plan for the region as "not worth the paper it's written on."
"Secretary of State 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," Yaalon was quoted as saying. "The only thing that can save us is if Kerry wins the Nobel prize and leaves us alone."
The report was published not long after Vice President Biden departed from Israel, where he had traveled this week to attend the funeral of former leader Ariel Sharon and held talks with Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu.
Netanyahu, who has butted heads with President Obama in the past, also criticized Yaalon's reported comments.
"Even when we have disagreements with the United States, they always pertain to the matter at hand, and are not personal," Netanyahu said in parliament.
SHARE 255CONNECT 51TWEET 58COMMENTEMAILMORE
No shyt, it seems the Israelis are happy with the blockade+US money status quo. They basically control the entire region and are growing. Why make a deal where they might potentially lose parts forever when they can just annex the entire thing?
