On Wednesday, The American Israel Public Affairs Committee (AIPAC) issued a statement denouncing Secretary of State John Kerry’s long-winded speech defending the United States’ decision to allow a UN resolution to pass that declared Israel’s settlements in the West Bank and Jerusalem “illegal.” AIPAC, which works to promote the U.S. and Israel relationship within the United States, stated that Secretary Kerry’s speech was “a failed attempt to defend the indefensible.”
“Secretary of State John Kerry’s speech today was a failed attempt to defend the indefensible,” the statement says.
“Contrary to Secretary of State Kerry’s address today, the United Nations Security Council (UNSC) resolution that the administration unconscionably failed to block was unfair, unbalanced and represented a profound departure from the policies of previous Democratic and Republican administrations for nearly the past forty years,” it continues. “Secretary Kerry placed overwhelming, disproportionate blame for the failure to advance peace on our ally, Israel, while neglecting numerous Israeli peace offers and Palestinian refusal to resume direct talks.”
The statement went on to say that the Obama Administration’s decision to abstain from voting against the resolution was an abandonment of U.S. principles and a betrayal to America’s Middle Eastern ally. It also noted that Israel’s dealings with the Obama Administration over the past eight years have been incredibly difficult as the leaders of America have continuously sided with the Palestinians who have never been looking to find peace.
“Over the past eight years, Israel has repeatedly tried to advance the negotiations process, including the imposition of a settlement freeze and the release of convicted Palestinian terrorists– a step that was deeply difficult for the Israeli people,” the statement says. “In response, the Palestinians made no significant gesture to advance the cause of peace. Yet, the intransigence of the Palestinian leadership is now being rewarded by the administration and others through destructive resolutions and counterproductive attempts to internationalize the conflict.”
AIPAC stated that as Kerry said in his speech, “it would be wrong to seek to impose conditions or to unilaterally recognize a Palestinian state.”
The pro-Israel group finished their statement by imploring Congress and the incoming Trump Administration to reject the actions taken by the current administration and make America the ally Israel needs.
“AIPAC calls upon the bipartisan congressional majority and the incoming Trump Administration to renounce the recent action taken by this administration and to begin the work of repairing the damage done to the cause of peace and the U.S-Israel relationship,” the statement concluded.
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