Geneva – Kerry To Defend Israel As Netanyahu Readies Critique Of Iran Talks

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    U.S. Secretary of State John Kerry arrives at Geneva International airport March 1, 2015. Kerry will speak at a high-level United Nations human rights forum while in Geneva. REUTERS/Evan Vucci/Pool Geneva – U.S. Secretary of State John Kerry will defend Israel at a U.N. human rights body on Monday as Israeli Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu prepares to criticize nuclear negotiations with Iran that the top diplomat is leading.

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    Kerry landed in Geneva late on Sunday for up to three days of talks with Iran’s Foreign Minister Mohammad Javad Zarif on a deal to restrain the Iranian nuclear program in exchange for easing sanctions on Tehran. The talks will be held in Montreux.

    In addition, Kerry will meet Russian Foreign Minister Sergey Lavrov on Monday to discuss Iran, Syria and Ukraine and speak at the U.N. Human Rights Council in part to defend Israel against what U.S. officials regard as its bias against the Jewish state.

    “Our position is always very much in defense of Israel and protection of Israel’s interests at the Human Rights Council,” a U.S. official aboard Kerry’s plane told reporters, saying any investigations of Israel should be “objective and neutral and not … one-sided and biased.”

    The official said that one of Washington’s main concerns was a U.N. inquiry into last summer’s conflict in Gaza in which more than more than 2,100 Palestinians, most of them civilians, 67 Israeli soldiers and six civilians in Israel were killed.

    The U.N. investigation, due to issue its report by March 23, is looking in to violations by both sides. The U.S. official said the United States wanted “to try to protect against any follow-on” steps or inquiries after the report is released.

    In traveling this week to Switzerland, Saudi Arabia and Britain, Kerry will avoid being in Washington when Netanyahu is expected to deliver a scathing criticism of U.S. negotiations to curb Iran’s nuclear program.

    The United States and many of its allies, including Israel, suspect that Iran is using its civilian nuclear program as a cover to develop atomic weapons. Iran denies this, saying the program is for peaceful uses such as generating electricity.

    Netanyahu’s planned speech on Tuesday before a joint session of Congress has strained relations with the Democratic White House, which has made no secret of its anger that it was set up with congressional Republicans without it being in the loop.

    Netanyahu has described the emerging agreement as a bad deal, even though U.S. officials stress that its details have yet to be nailed down. The White House has suggested that Netanyahu’s speech, two weeks ahead of an Israeli election, has injected partisanship into the U.S.-Israel relationship.‎


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    11 Comments
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    rhillel
    rhillel
    9 years ago

    Why does he remind me of Herman Munster?

    9 years ago

    I don’t understand why Kerry is being so benevolent when Israel is spitting him in the face time and time again.
    When Kerry visited Israel to negotiate a peace resolution, Bibi approved additional settlements. When Biden went to Israel, Bibi repeated his act again.

    After billion of dollars in aid, weapons and support, Israel is puts to shame the worst of hypocrites, and than he advocated on their behalf?

    As an American Jew, I’m incensed of Israel’s mistreatment of my leaders and do not wish they represent me in their mindless actions.

    9 years ago

    there’s the DIFFERENCE – Netanyahu is NOT coming to cruticize Obama or Kerry (even if they think so) – HE WILL EXPLAIN TO THE US CONGRESS & THE ENTIRE WORLD (whoever wants to listen) THE DANGER OF IRAN (a terrorist state) HAVING NUCLEAR CAPABILITIES

    Avrohom Abba
    Avrohom Abba
    9 years ago

    Kerry is an apologist for the Obama administration because they gave Iran an extra five and a half years to get their nuclear weapons in order, after the original six months expired.
    Too bad that most of the people in this world are totally focused on territories taken by Israel in the 1967 war. They say that if Israel had not taken that land, there would be no terrorist attacks. Ha!
    Not only did Israel grab that land because Syria was using that territory to launch raids. But MORE IMPORTANTLY, the Jews were being attacked long before 1948!
    In other words, the terrorists are only using the 1967 territory controversy, as an excuse to murder Jews, when in reality they were killing us even before the United Nations voted to establish Israel as a nation in 1948.
    There are no Iran talks, just acting. The nuclear agreement is already a done deal currently surrounded by drama. Mr. Obama needs this agreement to show that he at least did something. That’s the real reason he wanted to stop Netanyahu from speaking the truth, because that will endanger the deal for Obama legacy.

    Avrohom Abba
    Avrohom Abba
    9 years ago

    Kerry is an apologist for the Obama administration because they gave Iran an extra five and a half years to get their nuclear weapons in order, after the original six months expired.
    Too bad that most of the people in this world are totally focused on territories taken by Israel in the 1967 war. They say that if Israel had not taken that land, there would be no terrorist attacks. Ha!
    Not only did Israel grab that land because Syria was using that territory to launch raids. But MORE IMPORTANTLY, the Jews were being attacked long before 1948!
    In other words, the terrorists are only using the 1967 territory controversy, as an excuse to murder Jews, when in reality they were killing us even before the United Nations voted to establish Israel as a nation in 1948.
    There are no Iran talks, just acting. The nuclear agreement is already a done deal currently surrounded by drama. Mr. Obama needs this agreement to show that he at least did something. That’s the real reason he wanted to stop Netanyahu from speaking the truth, because that will endanger the deal for Obama legacy.

    puppydogs
    puppydogs
    9 years ago

    The guy should stick to making Ketchup