US says statement in-line with UK policy
The Unites States has issued a candid reply to the British government after a spokesperson for Prime Minister Theresa May criticised US Secretary of State John Kerry for his comments on Israeli settlement expansion.
US State Department pushes back against Theresa May over Downing Street's re… https://t.co/ooSDlMfYF0#trendingpic.twitter.com/IUyNvHidwe
— AlgoPolitics (@AlgoPolitic) December 30, 2016
As John Kerry prepares to vacate the state department he delivered a stinging criticism of the government of Benjamin Netanyahu.
John Kerry: “If the choice is one state, Israel can either be Jewish or Democratic. It cannot be both.” https://t.co/FUEPVnQnTQpic.twitter.com/xm1Sj9jij0
— The Daily Beast (@thedailybeast) December 28, 2016
Kerry described the Israeli government as: “the most right wing coalition in Israeli history” and slammed the ongoing expansion of settlements in the occupied territories.
Kerry added that the “the status quo is leading toward one state and perpetual occupation.’‘
PM Netanyahu on State Sec Kerry speech: Palestinian refusal to recognize a Jewish state remains core of the conflict https://t.co/EsycZi7ELPpic.twitter.com/y7BGtPrh5V
— Israel Foreign Min. (@IsraelMFA) December 28, 2016
A member of May’s staff described Kerry’s speech as “inappropriate.”
The state department replied that it was surprised by the UK statement, and believed the comments were “in-line with the UK’s own longstanding policy and its vote at the United Nations last week.”
The UK backed the UN vote that condemned Israeli settlement expansion.
Theresa May has since distanced herself from her spokesperson’s remarks.
