Former Secretary of State John Kerry has attempted to meddle in peace talks between the Israelis and Palestinians, according to Fox News.
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The Trump Administration has been working on facilitating a compromise between the two groups that would end their decades-long feud. During a recent meeting in London with Hussein Agha, who is a close associate of Palestinian Authority President Mahmoud Abbas, Kerry said that the Palestinian leadership should not “yield to President Trump’s demands,” Fox reported.
The Jerusalem Post had the exclusive first report about what Kerry’s meeting with Abbas’ confidante.
Kerry also reportedly told Agha that President Trump’s time in office is limited and that it could end within the next year, Fox reported. Kerry continued by suggesting that they shouldn’t work with Trump and should instead “hold on and be strong.”
As former President Barack Obama’s secretary of state during the final years of his second term, Kerry hinted to Agha that his political career may not be over, as he’s considering a bid for the White House in 2020.
Former House Speaker Newt Gingrich voiced disappointment and disbelief toward Kerry’s alleged comments.
“Kerry knows as a former secretary of state, a former U.S. senator, that kind of advice would be stunningly unpatriotic, and I don’t think John Kerry would do something like that,” Gingrich said.
“I hope he wouldn’t. I would be very, very surprised if a former secretary of state, a former U.S. senator would have said anything that was that overtly anti-American,” he continued.
Recently, U.N. Ambassador Nikki Haley went after Abbas for showing an unwillingness to work out a peace deal that involves input from the United States.
“We will not chase after a Palestinian leadership that lacks what’s needed to achieve peace,” Haley said.
Another initiative that the Trump Administration has recently taken on in the region is moving the U.S. Embassy from Tel Aviv to Jerusalem. Critics have said this move disrupts the peace talks, with the United States following through with a promise to relocate the embassy.
Vice President Mike Pence has defended the decision and feels that it shouldn’t have an impact on a potential peace deal between Israeli and Palestinian leaders.
“The truth is, the Palestinians walked away from negotiations for peace with Israel since 2014. It’s time for the Palestinians to come back to the table. The reality is President Trump made a promise to the American people and he kept that promise in recognizing Jerusalem as the capital of Israel,” Pence said.
“We’ve made no determination on the final status of boundaries of any peace agreement and if both sides come together and agree, we’ll accept a two-state solution,” Pence added.
