Posted By Josh Rogin
Monday, November 29, 2010 - 12:44 PM
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On a February trip to the Middle East, Senate Foreign Relations Committee chairman John Kerry (D-MA) told Qatari leaders that the Golan Heights should be returned to Syria, that a Palestinian capital should be established in East Jerusalem as part of the Arab-Israeli peace process, and that he was "shocked" by what he saw on a visit to Gaza.
Kerry discussed the Israeli-Palestinian peace process in a visit to Qatar during separate meetings with Prime Minister Hamad bin Jassim Al Thani and the Emir of Qatar, Hamad bin Khalifa, as revealed by the disclosure of diplomatic cables by the website WikiLeaks.
The emir told Kerry to focus on Syria as the path toward resolution of the Arab-Israeli conflict. Kerry agreed with the emir that Syrian President Bashar al-Assad is a man who wants change but pointed out that his arming of Hezbollah and interference in Lebanese politics were unhelpful. Kerry said that Assad "needs to make a bolder move and take risks" for peace, and that he should be "more statesman-like." Kerry also agreed with the emir that the Golan Heights should be given back to Syria at some point.
"The Chairman added that Netanyahu also needs to compromise and work the return of the Golan Heights into a formula for peace," the diplomatic cable reported.
As for the peace process, Kerry defended the Obama administration's drive to use indirect proximity talks (which were only being discussed at that time) as a stepping stone to direct talks between the Israelis and the Palestinians. He said the two sides should first agree on the amount of land to be swapped and then work on borders, followed by settlements.
Kerry also said that final agreement would have to include a Palestinian state with a capital in East Jerusalem.
"Any negotiation has its limits, added Senator Kerry, and we know for the Palestinians that control of Al-Aqsa mosque and the establishment of some kind of capital for the Palestinians in East Jerusalem are not negotiable," the cable stated, summarizing the meeting with the emir. "For the Israelis, the Senator continued, Israel's character as a Jewish state is not open for negotiation. The non-militarization of an eventual Palestinian state and its borders can nonetheless be resolved through negotiation."
In a separate meeting the day before with the prime minister, Kerry resisted the Qatari leader's assertion that Hamas was ready to accept the existence of the State of Israel, but he agreed that urgent action was needed to rebuild Gaza.
According to the leaked diplomatic cable, the prime minister told Kerry, "We need to broker a quick reconciliation between Hamas and Fatah and move forward quickly on rebuilding Gaza… Senator Kerry asserted that HBJ [Prime Minister Hamad bin Jassim Al Thani] was preaching to the converted and told the PM he was ‘shocked by what I saw in Gaza.'"
In a telling exchange at the end of his meeting with the emir, the Qatari ruler gave Kerry some advice for dealing with the Iranian government.
"The Amir closed the meeting by offering that based on 30 years of experience with the Iranians, they will give you 100 words. Trust only one of the 100," the cable said.
KARIM JAAFAR/AFP/Getty Images
Sound to me Kerry has been snuffing paint again.
Please tell the supercilious twit from Massachusetts that his advice is as valuable to Israel as a bucket of donkey dung... and Israel knows it.
Stuart,
I beg to differ. I don't mean to suggest that Kerry isn't a supercilious twit because he is. But you are wrong and unfair when you say that his advice is as valuable to Israel as a bucket of donkey dung. Donkey dung is at least good fertilizer. Kerry's advice, on the other hand, is worth less than nothing. As a previous poster said, if he went and stood on the Golan Heights, he might have a clue about why Israel should not return that high ground to Syria. And if he had a clue about history - specifically the devastation the Arabs wreaked on the Jewish Quarter of Jerusalem - and the geography of Jerusalem as it exists today, he might have a clue about why dividing Jerusalem is a nonstarter for most Israelis. On the other hand, we are talking about John Kerry, so it's probably unrealistic to think that he is capable of recognizing a clue if served to him on a silver platter with parsley around it.
What do you expect from a Liberal Low Life - Americans knew - thats why he lost his run for US President-
John Kerry is one of the dumbest Senators. Where do these creatures come from? Why are they re-elected? I can't believe that such a shallow man who has no commonsense is in the U.S. Senate. How did he EVER become nominated to the Presidency?
Our country is in big trouble.
This is what happens when a traitor to his country has power.
John Kerry committed treason to his country, his shipmates, and his oath during the Vietnam War, and should be in jail, not in the US Senate. The idea of his being the most powerful person in the US Senate on foreign policy literally turns my stomach. I can only hope that, when next he comes up for election he is turned out of office.
It's appropriate that it's Kerry who is negotiating the disposition of OTHER PEOPLES PROPERTY. It's something that he understands very, very well.
Isreal was ceated in the 1940's because some book said it was their land. That same book said that that they were driven out of Egypt. Why are they (asked) to leave each place they settle?
Why do you ask such a question, Kwidge? Tell us the answer.
that's not entirely correct. The state of Israel was established in '48 after years (centuries, really) of working on the "jewish homeland" problem. However, a jewish-favoring state of palestine was established following WWI, under the British. While it wasn't exclusively for jews, it did establish a "national home" for the jews.
That's obviously a very high-level summary and doesn't reflect the historical disbursal of jews under christian domination of the middle east in what - the 10th thru 14th centuries, or really, going back to Roman rule in the 1st century AD - nor the emigration of jews back into what is now Israel under Ottoman rule, and of course, the establishment of the zionist movement. Point is - establishment of a jewish homeland was necessary for a very long time, and that land had historically been occupied by jews and arabs alike.
Israel was created on May 14, 1948 and about 30 seconds after it declared its independence, EVERY SINGLE ARAB NATION around it declared war on them and vowed to destroy them. The land was not stolen, by the Jews but STOLEN FROM THEM starting in around A.D. 70. The land was given to them by God that much is stated in the Bible. Now tell me why, Christians in the 1600s would LIE about this (I refer to the creation of the King James Bible) Why would Christians mantain that the Israelites had any claim to this land (think about the crusades that happened from 1000 AD to 1300 AD) why would CHRISTIANS give any credence to a claim by Jews that the land is theirs unless it was TRUE! The King James Bible which was interpeted and written by CHRISTIANS.... Give these claims of ownership a ring of truth. Next explain why the Archeology matches what the Bible says referencing places and landmarks, so much so that settlements and cities have been found using Bible evidence. kwidge, They are asked to leave because they settle... and they establish their culture and their beliefs where they settle. You need to only look at the inquistion in Spain, and the Persecution of the Jews in German in the Middle Ages. How did they know they were Jews?.. Because as jews they established themselves as a community and as a people.
...........history, Isreal was stolen from Rome who in turn had it stolen during the crusades. The crusaders massacred thousands of Jews, along with Muslims, in the 11th century. The nation itself was formed as the Israelites left Egypt during the Exodus, believed to be in the late 13th century B.C. It is the ONLY nation to EVER be separtated for more than 300 years and still get the land back and speak the same language. I am not Jewish but born-again Christian. There is a reason Jewish people are hated and his name is satan...made God lead you to His Son Jesus.
Juniordraz I hope your refering to kwidge....
.... And NOT me. I do know history Rome Stole it from the Jews... I do know History and yes I Do know Jesus. BTW they DON"T speak the same language while it is close it is not quite the same Aramaic is considered to be a dead language. The Written form is closer to what passes as Hebrew today.
It's too bad everyone on this planet does not believe in the same invisable man in the sky. George Carlin said it best. "I'd never want to be a part of any organization where you either have to wear a hat, or you can't wear a hat".
John Kerry calls for Israel to cede Golan Heights and East Jerus
Israel was attacked by Egypt, Jordan, and Syria in 1967 intent on driving the Jews into the sea to their annihilation. The Muslims got their butts summarily kicked. Israel took over the previously controlled Jordan parts of Israel, the Sinai Peninsula, and part of the Golan Heights. Then in 1973, Israel was the victim of a sneak attack on their holy day of Yom Kippur by Egypt and Syria, who again were soundly defeated by the numerically outnumbered Israeli military. Israel would have owned Syria and Egypt except that the US interceded on the side of the Communist backed Muslim regimes. Had the US stayed out of it, the Muslim nations would have had to surrender to Israel’s terms, which most likely would have included the customary reparations and substantially more land than what they kept. The Muslims should be thankful they were not driven into the sea.
If Kerry supports Israel giving back land justly won against a duplicitous and committed enemy and critical to its security, I conclude that he also believes the US should cede California and Texas back to Mexico and that France should restore Alsace-Lorraine to Germany.
Your post is filled with fallacy. Obviously, the passage of time matters. And not enough time has passed to compare the lands Israel stole with California. The two situations are obviously very different in many ways, and you argument is tantamount to saying that someone who breaks into someone else's home and chaes them out at gunpoint instantly has a right to call it his home.
Is Iraq America now? Wait! Never mind! I'm afraid of your answer!
Do you need a better example of the bullet we dodged when this clown was the Liberal Party nominee for Pres?
I didn't realize John was allowed to speak without Teresa's explicit approval. Is this guy a complete idiot or what? Get your self another Purple Heart by proxy John Boy!
Kerry telling Israel to Cede the golan Heights
This is hilarious! Tantamount to telling our southern states to cede their state territories to Mexico.lol It is no secret; The old Turkish Ottomen Empire is what Israel, Iraq, and Iran were carved out of. Let's not forget; The Brits occupied Iraq way before America ever did.
Why is it; most everything today; requires epople to have amnesia and no education? Like its a virtue?
Kerry telling Israel to Cede the golan Heights
This is hilarious! Tantamount to telling our southern states to cede their state territories to Mexico.lol It is no secret; The old Turkish Ottomen Empire is what Israel, Iraq, and Iran were carved out of. Let's not forget; The Brits occupied Iraq way before America ever did.
Why is it; most everything today; requires people to have amnesia and no education? Like its a virtue?
Yep, you sure know your stuff. No one wanted the land Israel now occupies until they saw what the Jews did with it. Never has been a state of Palestine in all of human history so this was never an issue. The arabs attacked and got their butts whipped and now want a do over. Sorry, take the Koran back home to mommy....if you can tell which one that is. Israel is here to stay unless you want a few million fried arabs to prove it.
Sen. Kerry is a fool. He would willingly believe anything that Hamas or any other radical Islamist told him about the situation in the Middle East. His record during the Viet Nam War shows that he can easily be manipulated by others, and his famous, "I was in favor of it before I was against it." line during his presidential campaign, shows how unprincipled he is. If HE were in charge of foreign policy, I believe that he would promise Israel anything in order to gain concessions, and then he would simply ignore his promises the first time that Israel had a problem with one of the Arab nations. How the people in his state can be deluded into continually electing him to the Senate, I'll never understand, but it does suggest that many of the voters are as good at deluding themselves as Kerry is.
so glad he never became president
I know John Kerry believed he was competent to be president; but how is it possible that millions of others allowed themselves to be convinced?
How 'bout Israel keeps the Golan Heights and we'll give Syria Kerry?
Perhaps Kerry should cede Massachusetts to the Palestinians for their state. This guy has lost it and should just stay out of matters in which he is either ignorant or biased. He would bring a curse on his own nation to do anything like he is suggesting. Shame on him.
Relax. Go back to Massachusetts. Sail around the world on your new $7,000,000 yacht. Keep your (2d) rich wife satisfied. Quit pretending to know your .... from your elbow.
Relax. Go back to Massachusetts. Sail around the world on your new $7,000,000 yacht. Keep your (2d) rich wife satisfied. Quit pretending to know your .... from your elbow.
Israel is a land that is approximately the size of Florida.
The (traditional definition of) Middle East is approximately the size of China.
Why on earth cannot the other nations there see a way to give these Palestinians a place to life instead of stealing land from a country that they all publicly despise?
This is nothing more than racism against the Jews. And Kerry is fanning the flames of religious hatred with his inane suggestions.
it's about time the rest of the Middle East gave Israel a break. Leave them be and bring your blood home to the countries they came from already
John Kerry is the "poster child" for disfunctional government
John Kerry, as chairman of the Foriegn Relations Committee, is one reason why the international community looks at the US the way it does. He is a self-serving elitist and a knucklehead. Thank you Massachusetts for keeping him in power. This is yet another example of his lack of judgement.
I call for Colin Firth to yield his unclothed person to my will...how'my doin'? Am I getting any further than the good Senator? [who told him his nap was over?!]
We should listen to this guy, why? He is so completely out of touch with reality as to be a joke. He couldn't find his butt with both hands.
Kerry, the Qatari Emir, Israel, and the Middle East
For those of you who believe this shows any fairness on Kerry's part consider a few facts, facts! not your opinions.
1. Israel is the only democracy in the Middle East.
2. The average Arab lives better in Israel than anywhere else in the Middle East.
3. The Emir of Qatar is as corrupt as most Arab leaders which is very corrupt.
4. Israel is a tiny nation that can't afford, for its own security, to give up land. It is surrounded by Arab nations sworn to Israel's destruction.
5. Hey Kerry, you coward, why don't you do something unique like ask the Arabs to give up land to insure peace? Why don't you just tell the Arabs to live with the bounty they already have? Kerry nor any politician I know of has ever done this.
6. No Muslim in the Middle East, nor any I personally know wishes good upon America or our foreign policy. They want to enslave us to Sharia law.
7. No Muslim I know wants peace with Israel. They want Israel's destruction. If they can accomplish that they will do it one piece at a time. Thanks for being complicit in helping the Arabs dismantle our only real ally in the Middle East, Kerry.
Kerry, the Qatari Emir, Israel, and the Middle East
For those of you who believe this shows any fairness on Kerry's part consider a few facts, facts! not your opinions.
1. Israel is the only democracy in the Middle East.
2. The average Arab lives better in Israel than anywhere else in the Middle East.
3. The Emir of Qatar is as corrupt as most Arab leaders which is very corrupt.
4. Israel is a tiny nation that can't afford, for its own security, to give up land. It is surrounded by Arab nations sworn to Israel's destruction.
5. Hey Kerry, you coward, why don't you do something unique like ask the Arabs to give up land to insure peace? Why don't you just tell the Arabs to live with the bounty they already have? Kerry nor any politician I know of has ever done this.
6. No Muslim in the Middle East, nor any I personally know wishes good upon America or our foreign policy. They want to enslave us to Sharia law.
7. No Muslim I know wants peace with Israel. They want Israel's destruction. If they can accomplish that they will do it one piece at a time. Thanks for being complicit in helping the Arabs dismantle our only real ally in the Middle East, Kerry.
Why don't we just suggest that Ireland be ceded to England
Israel 'Occupies' no Arab Territories
In urgent matters of national survival and geopolitics, words matter. The still generally unchallenged language referring provocatively to an Israeli "Occupation" always overlooks the pertinent and incontestable history of the West Bank (Judea and Samaria) and Gaza.
Perhaps the most evident omission concerns the unwitting manner in which these "Territories" fell into Israel's hands in the first place. It is simply and widely disregarded that "occupation" followed the multi-state Arab aggression of 1967 - one never disguised by Egypt, Syria or Jordan. A sovereign state of "Palestine" did not exist before 1967 or 1948. Nor was a state of "Palestine" ever promised by UN Security Council Resolution 242. Contrary to popular understanding, a state of "Palestine" has never existed. Never. Even as a non-state legal entity, "Palestine" ceased to exist in 1948, when Great Britain relinquished its League of Nations mandate. During the 1948-49 Israeli War of Independence (a war of survival fought because the entire Arab world had rejected the authoritative United Nations recommendation to create a Jewish state), the West Bank and Gaza came under the illegal control of Jordan and Egypt respectively. These Arab conquests did not put an end to an already-existing state or to an ongoing trust territory. What these aggressions did accomplish was the effective prevention, sui generis, of a state of"Palestine."
The original hopes for Palestine were dashed, therefore, not by the new Jewish state or by its supporters, but by the Arab states, especially Jordan and Egypt. Let us return to an earlier time in history. From the Biblical Period ( 1350 BCE to 586 BCE) to the British Mandate (1922 - 1948), the land named by the Romans after the ancient Philistines was controlled only by non-Palestinian elements. Significantly, however, a continuous chain of Jewish possession of the land was legally recognized after World War I, at the San Remo Peace Conference of April 1920.
Read more here:http://www.rightsidenews.com/2010060110408/world/israel/israel-occupies-no-arab-territories.html
You are just another politician out of touch with reality. Resign in disgrace. Call your elected officials and demand action.
BETZ55's comments: Obama-logic
Following Betz55's logic, if everyone is against it, then it must be the right path. That was the same Obama-logic that just led to the Democratic defeats i nthe mid-term elections with ObamaCare. Seems the Dems and their liberal friends never learn.
As a Jew, we will give up the land when you take it from our cold dead hands. Many Arab nations have tried and they have all failed. We are willign to die to hold it - are they willing to die to try to take it?
Mr Winters: That is exactly what these Muslims want to do - take it from our cold, dead hands. They are certainly willing to die for it. Which brings me to two quotes by George Patton:
"The more I see of Arabs the less I think of them. By having studied them a good deal I have found out the trouble. They are the mixture of all the bad races on earth...."
"...no bastard ever won a war by dying for his country. He won it by making the other poor dumb bastard die for his country." There is no country of "Palestine," but make the poor dumb bastards die for it anyway!
Who cares what Kerry says. The man is a legend in his own mind.
Get over yourself - your wife has all the money.
Israel to give up these strategic sites would be catastrophic to them. In John Kerry's mind it would be as catastrophic as his wife kicking him to the curb.
But at least in John Kerry's case it would be more entertaining for me anyway.
Oh, I forgot to say John Kerry once served in Vietnam.
Out!
All I know is that God (Yahweh) will take care of Israel. He always has and always will. Just wait all of you 1.6 billion Muslims, He has something special planned for you and it is not paradise with virgins. Soon He will show you who He really is. I hope you all see the TRUTH before it is too late. God Bless you Israel, I WILL always have your back!
With that said, I can now go into battle mode.
I know you Islam. I watched you desecrate your women and children while you run away in battle, only to cry and ask for mercy. Sure, you are wily fighters and deserve respect but only because you do not fight like real men. Every one of you (republican guard, insurgents, whatever you are) I came across cried like a little girl when I butt stroked your face. I have killed many of your men and would do it all over again. However, the difference that defines us as warriors and as men is: You are neither of them. While you believe that killing one of us is going to get you into heaven, I need my Savior to forgive me for doing the same. You may enjoy some victories in this world, but someday the real owner of this world is going to own you for good.
Yet somehow, I expect you will cry like a little girl, just like you always have. However, it will be too late. I had more mercy for you and you men then Yahweh will have for you on that day.
With that note I am out.
Iraq Vet 1991-2010
John Kerry... botox addict and tax evader has no right establishing any type of foreign policy direction. Kerry should focus on paying his yacht taxes first and sending in additional tax payments from the Heinz fortune.. Here is a Senator who is so psychotic that he votes for higher taxes and than plays dumb when people catch him cheating on his own taxes.
I am sorry to interupt, but John Kerry is laying the grounds right now to run again for what he wants more than life. He will oppose Obama. All we are hearing from John Kerry is a campaign speech. He will receive millions from Islamic interests. You heard it first from a guy stoned on some very fine smoke. Allen West for President.
Mr. Kerry is not the type of person America needs as president. We need a Teddy Roosevelt in the White House. Someone who can gain the respect of many who now doubt us because of the ineptness of the Obama regime. We need a professional leader. A man of honor once said, "Honor is no more than doing what is right." How true. I have listened to him on YouTube. He is terrific. Might I suggest Allen West for President? He will restore our National honor. He certainly will not bow, kowtao, or in any other way lessen the honor of our Nation. The President of the United States must always walk tall for we are a free people. Can you imagine having a president who commands respect? Make Allen West president. He commands respect as a trust. An honor not lightly taken.
a man who is worth over $200MM and didn't earn it supports the idea of israel ceding territories to people who didn't earn it. sounds very consistent in the john kerry/liberal world. one of the biggest problems we have in the world is people getting things they don't earn. and it's confiscated from the people who do earn.
The fact that the anti-israel haters are out in force on this blog mean that Senator Kerry is on the wrong track. No Kerry NO.
Pay no attention to them.
------------
Someone needs a fact injection:
http://www.factsandlogic.org/ads_and_positions.html
I'm talking to you BETZ55. Enjoy the light from the F.L.A.M.E.!
Cool, as long as John Kerry is giving things away...
I want that yacht he won't pay taxes on!
Sure Uncle John,,,,,,,,,,,,,,And we, as in the United States, should give back all lands West of the Mississippi to Mexico................... Too bad you didn't serve out your 2 (so-called) " tours" in Viet Nam with my unit. We would have had a little fun with you................. cracker
John Hudson reports on national security and foreign policy from the Pentagon to Foggy Bottom, the White House to Embassy Row, for The Cable.
May/June 2013
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