WASHINGTON, Dec. 5 (UPI) — U.S. Secretary of State John Kerry today warned Israel of the dangers posed by a potential collapse of the Palestinian Authority during a speech Saturday.
Kerry called on leaders at the Saban Forum in Washington, D.C., to work harder to end violence in the region and renew commitments on both sides to a two-state solution to the Israeli-Palestinian conflict. He said the two-state solution is becoming more of a “slogan” than an actual goal based on the lack of action on either side, reported Haaretz.
The Saban Forum, an annual conference held by the Center for Middle East Policy at the Brookings Institute, this year includes addresses from Kerry, Israeli Defense Minister Moshe Ya’alon, former National Security Advisor Stephen Hadley, and former Secretary of State Hillary Clinton.
Kerry criticized both sides, saying Palestinians must stop violence which has increased in recent months, and find ways to silence those who encourage it. He also said terror attacks, when they happen, need to be condemned by Palestinian leaders.
“There’s no justification for violence against civilians,” Kerry said. “Israel has the right and the obligation to defend itself.”
Kerry said Israel’s continued construction of settlements in disputed areas, and the lack of building permits granted to Palestinians, raise concerns among them about Israel’s long-term plans. Additionally, some Israeli cabinet members have spoken out in opposition to a Palestinian state.
“If there is a risk the Palestinian Authority might collapse and Israel wants it to survive, shouldn’t Israel do more to help sustain it?” Kerry said in the speech.
“Without the Palestinian Authority, Israel will be responsible for civil administration of the West Bank — it costs billions. Without the Palestinian Authority’s security forces, the IDF would be forced to deploy tens of thousands of soldiers to the West Bank indefinitely.”
Israeli Knesset member and Yesh Atid party chairman Yair Lapid said in an earlier speech at the forum that the two-state solution “is not the number one priority of Israel — it is the only priority.”
“We have been waiting for 40 years for the right timing to have peace with the Palestinians. Enough is enough — we need to do it,” Lapid added.
