US Secretary of State John Kerry has blamed Israel for the lack of progress in the so-called Israeli-Palestinian peace talks.
Kerry who travelled to the occupied Palestinian territories earlier this week said Saturday that Israel�™s continued occupation of the West Bank suggests it is not committed to a negotiated deal, according to the Times of Israel.
�œIf we don�™t end the presence of Israeli soldiers perpetually within the West Bank, then there will be an increasing feeling that if we cannot get peace with a leadership that is committed to non-violence, you may wind up with leadership that is committed to violence,” Kerry said in a joint Israeli-Palestinian television interview.
Hundreds of thousands of Israelis currently live in settlements built on the occupied territories, with Israel still introducing new plans to expand the illegal construction activities.
Before Kerry’s visit, the Zionist regime announced plans for thousands of new settler homes, a large percentage of them in east al-Quds (Jerusalem).
Kerry had earlier warned Israel of a �œthird intifada” and more �œisolation” for Israel if the US-backed talks ended in failure.
�œThe alternative to getting back to the talks is the potential of chaos,” Kerry said in an interview with Israel�™s Channel 2 on Thursday. �œI mean, does Israel want a third intifada?” he asked.
�œIf we do not find a way to find peace, there will be an increasing isolation of Israel.”
The top US diplomat was in the Middle East to mend fences with Saudi Arabia and push for renewed talks between the Israelis and Palestinians but left the region for Geneva, Switzerland to join the negotiations over Iran�™s nuclear energy program.
AN/HJ
Source: Press TV