A high-ranking Israeli Minister on Wednesday lashed out at U.S. Secretary of State John Kerry’s planned speech on the Middle East peace process, calling it “pathetic’’.
Public Security Minister Gilad Erdan also called Kerry’s address “anti-democratic” because it will tie U.S. president-elect Donald Trump to positions that were difficult to change, according to the report.
He said that the region had become more chaotic under U.S. President Barack Obama, listing conflicts in Syria and Iraq as examples.
The tone between Israel and the outgoing administration has become deeply acrimonious since the U.S. allowed the passage of a UN Security Council resolution last week condemning Israeli settlement activity.
Trump took to Twitter on Wednesday to accuse Obama of treating Israel with “total disdain and disrespect’’.
“They used to have a great friend in the U.S. but not anymore,’’ Trump said of Israel.
“Stay strong Israel, January 20th is fast approaching!’’ he continued.
Trump has named bankruptcy lawyer David Friedman, who has said that he does not think Israeli settlement activity is illegal, as his U.S. ambassador to Israel.
Friedman also opposes a two-state solution, a position that has been supported by successive U.S. administrations.
A State Department spokesperson said Kerry’s address at 1600 GMT in Washington would “touch on’’ the UN resolution, and he rejected Israeli accusations that the U.S. was its driving force.
Jerusalem’s planning committee cancelled a scheduled discussion about approving the construction of nearly 500 housing units in East Jerusalem without explanation, according to the report.
However, hours before Kerry was set to speak, the committee decided to approve a settlement housing project in Jerusalem’s predominantly Palestinian neighbourhood of Silawn, the Haaretz newspaper reported.
The move is in direct defiance of the resolution’s recommendations.
Palestinian President Mahmoud Abbas said earlier this week that the resolution laid the groundwork for “serious talks to end the occupation” of the West Bank and paves the way for the success of a French-sponsored international peace conference set for next month.
Kerry led the last attempt to broker a peace deal between the Israelis and Palestinians, but negotiations collapsed in April 2014.
