Kerry Criticized for Israel ‘Apartheid’ Comment

Republicans in Congress and pro-Israel groups criticized Secretary of State John Kerry on Monday for reportedly saying Israel could become an apartheid state if it doesn’t reach a peace deal with the Palestinians.

The Daily Beast said Kerry was speaking privately to European, Russian and Japanese officials when he made the comment and said it had a recording. It’s a warning Israel’s former Prime Minister Ehud Barak previously has made.

House GOP leader Eric Cantor (R-Va.) said Kerry should apologize, while the American Israel Public Affairs Committee described his use of the term as offensive. Another pro-Israel lobby said Kerry should resign, a call echoed by Republican Sen. Ted Cruz of Texas in a speech on the Senate floor.

“A two-state solution,” Kerry said, “will be clearly underscored as the only real alternative.
“Because a unitary state winds up either being an apartheid state with second-class citizens — or it ends up being a state that destroys the capacity of Israel to be a Jewish state.

“Once you put that frame in your mind, that reality, which is the bottom line, you understand how imperative it is to get to the
two-state solution, which both leaders, even yesterday, said they remain deeply committed to.”

“President Obama has rejected the use of the term apartheid in the past, correctly saying it is historically inaccurate and emotionally loaded,” Mr. Cantor said. “I hope that President Obama will again reiterate these views, and call on Secretary Kerry to apologize to the Israeli government and people.”

“Any suggestion that Israel is, or is at risk of becoming, an apartheid state is offensive and inappropriate,” AIPAC said in a statement. “The Jewish state is a shining light for freedom and opportunity in a region plagued by terror, hate and oppression,” the statement read.

The ADL also condemned Kerry’s remark.

“It is startling and deeply disappointing that a diplomat so knowledgeable and experienced about democratic Israel chose to use such an inaccurate and incendiary term,” wrote ADL National Director Abe Foxman in a statement.

State Department spokeswoman Jen Psaki said in response that Kerry was merely voicing a concern which has been heard before from Israeli leaders such as Ehud Barak, Ehud Olmert and Tzipi Livni.

“Kerry does not think and has never said Israel is an apartheid state,” Psaki added.

During his talk, Kerry put blame for the suspension of the talks on both sides, and  suggested that a change in leadership on either side could make a breakthrough possible.

Kerry also said that at some point he might unveil his own peace proposal, and tell both sides to either “take it or leave it.”

This article appeared in print on page 6 of the April 29th, 2014 edition of Hamodia.