UK critical of John Kerry's Israel comments

By Busra Akin Dincer

LONDON

The U.K. has become embroiled in an unusual spat with its close ally the United States following a blunt rebuke of comments about Israel made by U.S. Secretary of State John Kerry.

Kerry had made comments that that the future of a two-state solution was “in serious jeopardy”, defending U.S. abstention last week on a UN Security Council vote condemning Israeli settlements.

He had also characterized Israeli Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu’s government as "the most right-wing in Israeli history, with an agenda driven by the most extreme elements".

However, a spokesman for Theresa May, the British premier, said in a statement that “the settlements are far from the only problem in this conflict” and it was “inappropriate to attack” the democratically elected government of an ally.

“We do not, therefore, 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.

“And we do not believe that it is appropriate to attack the composition of the democratically-elected government of an ally. The [British] government believes that negotiations will only succeed when they are conducted between the two parties, supported by the international community.”

Prime Minister Netanyahu last Sunday summoned the U.S. ambassador in Tel Aviv over Washington’s abstention on a UN vote condemning Israeli settlement building in the occupied territories.

In the past, the U.S. has used its veto power on the issue, however, the Obama administration's decision not to veto the resolution was a first regarding a measure involving Israel and Palestine.

The last UN Security Council resolution condemning Israeli settlement building was adopted in 1979.