(Ha'aretz) Barak Ravid - The draft cease-fire plan that U.S. Secretary of State John Kerry passed to Israel on Friday shocked the cabinet ministers not only because it was the opposite of what Kerry told them less than 24 hours earlier, but mostly because it might as well have been penned by Khaled Mashaal. It was everything Hamas could have hoped for. The Israeli security cabinet unanimously rejected Kerry's plan. The document recognized Hamas' position in Gaza, promised it billions in donations, and demanded no dismantling of rockets or tunnels. The document placed Israel and Hamas on the same level, as if the first is not a primary U.S. ally and as if the second isn't a terror group which took over part of the Palestinian Authority in a military coup and fired thousands of rockets at Israel. The Kerry draft empowered the most radical elements in the region - Qatar, Turkey, and Hamas - and was a slap in the face to Egypt, Israel, the PA, Jordan, and Saudi Arabia. Kerry isn't anti-Israeli; he's a true friend to Israel. But his conduct in recent days raises serious doubts over his judgment and perception of regional events. Instead of promoting a cease-fire, Kerry pushed it away.
2014-07-27 00:00:00Full ArticleBACK Visit the Daily Alert Archive