May follows Trump
Reports from the Daily Telegraph and Independent
Theresa May lays down her rule: if you’ve nothing nice to say about your closest friends, keep your mouth shut. Photo from CFI Facebook.
Theresa May rebukes US for ‘inappropriate’ attack on Israel
Theresa May has attacked the current US administration over its condemnation of the Israeli government
By Peter Dominiczak, political editor, Daily Telegraph
December 29, 2016
Theresa May has attacked the current US administration over its condemnation of the Israeli government, in comments which appeared to align her with Donald Trump.
The Prime Minister’s spokesman criticised John Kerry, the outgoing US Secretary of State, after he described the Israeli government as the “most Right-wing in history”.
Mrs May does “not believe that it is appropriate” for Mr Kerry to attack the make-up of the democratically elected Israeli government, the spokesman said.
We do not… believe that the way to negotiate peace is by focusing on only one issue, in this case the construction of settlements, when clearly the conflict between the Israelis and Palestinians is so deeply complex.
Her decision to speak out came as president-elect Trump accused Barack Obama and his government of treating Israel with “total disdain and disrespect”.
Mr Kerry had criticised Benjamin Netanyahu, the Israeli prime minister, for undermining the two-state solution with his settlement policy in the West Bank.
Britain also recently angered Israel by backing a UN Security Council resolution calling for an end to Israel’s construction of settlements in the disputed region.
The US broke with tradition by abstaining rather than vetoing the text, in what was seen as a hostile act by President Obama.
Mr Trump defended the Israeli government, urging them to “stay strong” until his inauguration as president next month.
Downing Street has made clear that Mrs May was still opposed to Israel’s “illegal” construction of settlements in the West Bank.
It said her criticism was directed at Mr Kerry’s decision to attack the make-up of the Israeli government.
“We do not… believe that the way to negotiate peace is by focusing on only one issue, in this case the construction of settlements, when clearly the conflict between the Israelis and Palestinians is so deeply complex,” Mrs May’s spokesman said.
And we do not believe that it is appropriate to attack the composition of the democratically elected government of an ally. The Government believes that negotiations will only succeed when they are conducted between the two parties, supported by the international community.
The spokesman added: “The British Government continues to believe that the only way to a lasting peace in the Middle East is through a two-state solution. We continue to believe that the construction of settlements in the Occupied Palestinian Territories is illegal.”
Mr Kerry’s speech drew a furious reaction from Mr Netanyahu, who said the US diplomat focused “obsessively” on Jewish settlements and “barely touched” on Palestinian opposition to a Jewish state in any form.
A US State Department spokesperson told the Telegraph:
We are surprised by the UK Prime Minister’s statement given that Secretary Kerry’s remarks – which covered the full range of threats to a two state solution, including terrorism, violence, incitement and settlements – were in-line with the UK’s own longstanding policy and its vote at the United Nations last week.
Theresa May criticises John Kerry’s hardline stance on Israel
The focus should be on the wider peace process, the Prime Minister says
By Shaun Connolly, The Independent
December 30, 2016
Theresa May has distanced herself from outgoing US president Barack Obama’s hardline stance on Israel.
In comments which appeared more in tune with the outlook being taken by president-elect Donald Trump, the Prime Minister said it was wrong to focus on single issues like settlement building. Instead the wider peace process should be the aim.
After US secretary of state John Kerry branded the Israeli government as the “most right wing in history”, Downing Street said it was “not appropriate” to attack the composition of the administration of prime minister Benjamin Netanyahu.
The comments came after Mr Kerry accused the Israeli government of undermining attempts at a two state solution to the conflict with the Palestinians by continuing to build settlements in the West Bank.
While the UK said it opposed such developments in the occupied territories, Number 10 made clear a more broadly-ranged approach was needed to encourage peace.
“The British Government continues to believe that the only way to a lasting peace in the Middle East is through a two-state solution. We continue to believe that the construction of settlements in the Occupied Palestinian Territories is illegal, which is why we supported UN Security Council Resolution 2334 last week,” a spokesman for the Prime Minister said.