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Kerry’s speech on Israeli settlements, outstanding: Analyst

Thursday, 29 December 2016 9:13 AM [ Last Update: Thursday, 29 December 2016 11:16 AM ]

US Secretary of State John Kerry delivers a speech on Middle East peace at the US Department of State on December 28, 2016 in Washington, DC. (Photo by AFP)

Secretary of State John Kerry defended the United States' decision to abstain - and not veto - a UN resolution condemning Israeli settlements in the occupied Palestinian territories, saying Israel’s policies put the so-called two-state solution “in serious jeopardy.”

Over half a million Israelis live in over 230 illegal settlements built since the 1967 Israeli occupation of the Palestinian territories.

The presence and continued expansion of Israeli settlements in occupied Palestine has created a major obstacle for the efforts to establish peace in the Middle East.

A writer and political commentator believes Kerry’s speech on Israeli settlements was a “last-ditch attempt” to save the two-state solution and prevent chaos, because war will soon break out if Israel continues to arrogantly steal Palestinian lands.

“The speech was actually fair, balanced, well-crafted, a noble effort indeed. I find it admirable that Kerry is doing it,” Johnny Punish told Press TV in an interview on Thursday.

He went on to say Kerry’s speech was “outstanding,” adding that he was trying to put momentum behind something that is “reasonable, pro-humanity, and pro-people.”

The analyst further stated that Israeli Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu is playing “the attrition game,” trying to pursue the dream of a “Greater Israel” by pushing Palestinians out.

He also predicted the next US administration is going to be siding with Israel with no empathy towards the indigenous people of Palestine.

However, he said, Kerry has tried to “let the cat out of the bag” in an attempt to put pressure on US President-elect Donald Trump and Israel to be reasonable about humanity.

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