ISRAELI MINISTER CALLS KERRY “NUISANCE”

Tel Aviv , 12 Rabiul Awal 1435 / 14 January 2014 ( MINA ) – The Israeli Minister of Military Affairs, Moshe Ya’alon on Tuesday has insulted the US Secretary of State John Kerry, implying that he is a nuisance over his plan for the so-called peace process.

Based on Israeli media reports, Ya’alon said that Kerry’s proposed plan was not worth the paper it was written on. He reportedly made the remarks in private conversations with other Israeli officials. He also accused Kerry of being naïve.

Kerry’s proposals for the so-called peace process include a security plan for the Jordan Valley in the occupied West Bank. Under this plan, Israeli forces must withdraw from the Jordan Valley. Tel Aviv is opposed to the proposal.

This comes days after reports said that the Israeli Housing Ministry was planning to build over 1,076 settler units in the illegally annexed East al-Quds (Jerusalem) and 801 more in the occupied West Bank. Press TVreported as quoted by Mi’raj Islamic News Agency (MINA).

A previous round of talks between Palestinians and Israel stalled in September 2010 after Israel refused to freeze settlement activities.

Also Read: Israel Refuses Belgian Minister to Enter Gaza Strip

More than half a million Israelis currently live in over 120 illegal settlements built since Israel’s occupation of the Palestinian territories of the West Bank and East al-Quds in 1967.

The settlements are considered illegal by the United Nations and many countries because the territories were seized by Israel in a war in 1967 and are hence subject to the Geneva Conventions, which forbid construction on occupied lands.

US Secretary of State John Kerry made a New Year’s Day trip to Israel and the Palestinian Territories aiming to push forward peace talks as a nine-month deadline looms.

“On January 1, Secretary of State John Kerry traveled to Jerusalem to meet with Prime Minister (Benjamin) Netanyahu, and to Ramallah to meet with president (Mahmud) Abbas,” State Department spokeswoman Jen Psaki said.

The announcement of Kerry’s 10th visit to the region since March comes as Israel confirmed it would release another 26 Palestinian prisoners as soon as Monday.

Also Read: Israeli Occupation Force Palestinian to Self-Demolish His House in Jerusalem

“In these meetings, he will discuss the ongoing final status negotiations between the Israelis and Palestinians, among other issues,” she added in a statement.

After persuading the two sides to resume talks, Kerry has been pushing the Israelis and the Palestinians to reach a peace deal ahead of a deadline set to expire in late April.

Earlier Saturday, a Palestinian official told that Kerry would meet with Abbas on January 4.

A statement from Netanyahu’s office said that the prisoners were due to be freed “at least 48 hours” after a list of their names was published Saturday night.

Israel occupation authority agreed to free a total of 104 Palestinian prisoners during the peace talks, and has already released 52 in two separate batches. After the third group is released, the remaining inmates are due to walk free in March 2014.

The previous releases in August and October were accompanied by Israeli occupation authority announcements of fresh construction on land the Palestinians want for a future state, provoking international condemnation and Palestinian officials to say Israeli settlement plans are destroying the peace process.

Also Read: 1st Batch of Gaza Pilgrims Back Home

Netanyahu is expected to announce plans next week for a further 1,400 homes in settlements in the West Bank, including east Jerusalem

Kerry has insisted that concrete progress is being made in the peace talks but is remaining mum on details.

Israeli and Arab media reports say the plan envisaged by Washington would see Israel maintain a military presence on the border for some 10-15 years after a peace agreement with the Palestinians.

An international force would be acceptable to the Palestinians, but Israel opposes such a solution.

During Kerry’s last visit to the West Bank on December 12, Abbas ruled out any formula that would allow an indefinite Israeli occupation troop presence on Palestinian soil.

At an Arab League meeting in Cairo on December 21, Abbas also rejected any further interim agreements and any prolongation of the talks beyond their agreed end on April 29. .(T / P04/P03/mirajnews.com )

Mi’raj Islamic News Agency ( MINA )