Kerry Hopes To Revive Israeli-Palestinian Talks

[Wizard777]

Kerry says he hopes to revive Israeli-Palestinian talks

WASHINGTON, Jan 24 (Reuters) - Senator John Kerry, nominated to be the next U.S. secretary of state, said on Thursday he hopes for a revival of Israeli-Palestinian peace talks.

The comment by the Massachusetts Democratic senator, whose Senate confirmation is regarded as a virtual certainty, suggests the United States could consider a new peace initiative despite the failure of President Barack Obama's first-term efforts.

U.S.-brokered peace talks broke down in 2010 amid mutual acrimony. Since then Israel has accelerated construction in the West Bank and east Jerusalem - land the Palestinians want for a future state - and the Palestinians have taken steps to gain greater recognition at the United Nations and its agencies.

[Wizard777]

Let me be the first to say, Bwahahahahahaha. If Netanyahu is involved in those talked, even in his weakened position, the best Kerry can hope for is to come out of any talks without SUCKER tattooed across his forehead or Property Of Israel tatooed across his arse.

[cprenegade]

How many times do we have to watch this failed re-run? There are more pressing issues for the SOS to deal with. Let those two fight it out among themselves.

[Wizard777]

How many times do we have to watch this failed re-run? There are more pressing issues for the SOS to deal with. Let those two fight it out among themselves.

What we need to realize is that neither side is every going to be 100% happy with any deal. We have to abandon our past and current time frame for getting this done which is before the end of time and not one second after. Israel benefits most from no deadline. That gives them more time to establish and expand more settlements. Their land grabs are becoming more brazen and atrocious. What Kerry needs to do is hold the Last Chance Talks. He needs to make it perfectly clear that this is their last chance to do this on their own terms. If they cannot reach an agreement we will go to the UN Security Council and refer this to the ICJ, the ICJ will determine the legal boundaries of the two states and we will enforce the judgement of the court.

As for the ICC, that is a win win situation for Abass. That could result in war crime charges against Israel and Hamas. That would be a boon for Fatah. If Israel is committing war crimes we cannot defend or protect that. That's far worse than stopping a woman from calling the police to report that she's being raped because the guy raping her is your "friend" that you have a "special relationship" with.

[SalisburySage]

How many times do we have to watch this failed re-run? There are more pressing issues for the SOS to deal with. Let those two fight it out among themselves.

True enough. It does get tiresome. Kerry might actually get them to the table, but after that it will be the same tired old crap and Kerry will have wasted our tax money.

The goals of the parties are mutually exclusive, the Arab mind is beyond redemption when it comes to Israel. They have sought the destruction of Israel since 1948.

[Grindelwald]

America would have been so much better off if Kerry had been President rather than that moron from the low-IQ state.

[johnpolitics]

The last several SofS's have said the same thing. Can't make peace when neither side wants peace.

[cprenegade]

What we need to realize is that neither side is every going to be 100% happy with any deal. We have to abandon our past and current time frame for getting this done which is before the end of time and not one second after. Israel benefits most from no deadline. That gives them more time to establish and expand more settlements. Their land grabs are becoming more brazen and atrocious. What Kerry needs to do is hold the Last Chance Talks. He needs to make it perfectly clear that this is their last chance to do this on their own terms. If they cannot reach an agreement we will go to the UN Security Council and refer this to the ICJ, the ICJ will determine the legal boundaries of the two states and we will enforce the judgement of the court.
As for the ICC, that is a win win situation for Abass. That could result in war crime charges against Israel and Hamas. That would be a boon for Fatah. If Israel is committing war crimes we cannot defend or protect that. That's far worse than stopping a woman from calling the police to report that she's being raped because the guy raping her is your "friend" that you have a "special relationship" with.

How are we going to do that, and why should we? Let them handle it. Haven't we interfered in the middle east enough? Neither of these people owns anything that is of importance to America. Israel is an ally. You may dispute that, but it is a fact that every president, democrat or republican has recognized. Still, their is nothing of national importance involved with either party. Let them fight it out among themselves and stay out of it. Sooner or later, it will be resolved and we will move forward. Enforcing a judgement of the UN over there will only result in more American deaths. Time to end that tired old script.

[Wizard777]

How are we going to do that, and why should we? Let them handle it. Haven't we interfered in the middle east enough? Neither of these people owns anything that is of importance to America. Israel is an ally. You may dispute that, but it is a fact that every president, democrat or republican has recognized. Still, their is nothing of national importance involved with either party. Let them fight it out among themselves and stay out of it. Sooner or later, it will be resolved and we will move forward. Enforcing a judgement of the UN over there will only result in more American deaths. Time to end that tired old script.

Except that this goes far beyond Israel and Palestine. Every country in the Middle East has a dog in that fight. So this goes far beyond Peace between Israel and Palestine. Ending this dispute once and for all is an important step in establishing Peace in the Middle East. How we do that is we simply place a resolution before the Security Council to refer member states Israel and Palestine to the ICJ for a legal opinion on the legal boarders of the two states. Keeping in mind that determing legal borders and bounaries is one of the most effective things the ICJ does. The resolution should include a provision that would legally bind the UNSC to enforce the court opinion and the boundaries that they set. End of problem and if Israel doesn't want to be our friend any more. So be it. America does not live and die by Israel's approval.

[cprenegade]

Except that this goes far beyond Israel and Palestine. Every country in the Middle East has a dog in that fight. So this goes far beyond Peace between Israel and Palestine. Ending this dispute once and for all is an important step in establishing Peace in the Middle East. How we do that is we simply place a resolution before the Security Council to refer member states Israel and Palestine to the ICJ for a legal opinion on the legal boarders of the two states. Keeping in mind that determing legal borders and bounaries is one of the most effective things the ICJ does. The resolution should include a provision that would legally bind the UNSC to enforce the court opinion and the boundaries that they set. End of problem and if Israel doesn't want to be our friend any more. So be it. America does not live and die by Israel's approval.

That's a good thought, but it isn't going to happen. And even if it did, no matter what was decided, one side would not agree to it. Suppose the ICJ found in favor of the borders that Israel wanted? Would you believe for one second that the Palestinians and their allies would simply go along with it? Suppose that happened. Would you suggest that America and the UN place troops over there to enforce borders that the Palestinians would never accept? The two parties must come to a mutual agreement or there never will be peace and everyone else will simply be dragged into the fight yet again.

[ivanbalt]

America would have been so much better off if Kerry had been President rather than that moron from the low-IQ state.

Maybe, maybe not. Regardless, Kerry ran a terrible campaign and Romney followed his playbook in 2012 of how not to get elected.

[Jeebus]

America would have been so much better off if Kerry had been President rather than that moron from the low-IQ state.

Better off with....the person who LOST to a moron.

Umm......ok.

Such bootlicking, you can't make this up.

[Grindelwald]

Maybe, maybe not. Regardless, Kerry ran a terrible campaign and Romney followed his playbook in 2012 of how not to get elected.

Yeah his campaign wasn't great, but he murdered Bush in all 3 debates, and the real problem is that America is just stupid. Kerry may have been a good President, he may have been a bad one, but he sure as hell would have been better than the dolt that was in there at the time.

Better off with....the person who LOST to a moron.

Umm......ok.

Such bootlicking, you can't make this up.

Come back when you have something intelligent to say and when you have gotten over your "bootlicking" obsession.

[Wizard777]

That's a good thought, but it isn't going to happen. And even if it did, no matter what was decided, one side would not agree to it. Suppose the ICJ found in favor of the borders that Israel wanted? Would you believe for one second that the Palestinians and their allies would simply go along with it? Suppose that happened. Would you suggest that America and the UN place troops over there to enforce borders that the Palestinians would never accept? The two parties must come to a mutual agreement or there never will be peace and everyone else will simply be dragged into the fight yet again.

First of all a judgement of a court is not something has to be agreed upon. It's just how it is and how it's going to be. Especially if the UNSC legally obligates themself to enforce that judgement. The UNSC is the enforcement arm of the ICJ. But they do not always chose to fulfill that obligation. As usual those who declare the law have placed themselves above it.

I don't think Israel would come out of the trial as well as think they would. I think they would have a state. Just not as big as they would like it to be. That's basically all of Palestine. The first thing they have going against them is that you cannot take land by military conquest. That's exactly how Israel has gotten the majority of their land.