Settlements thwart Kerry's peace plan

What was expected did actually happen.

When US Secretary of State John Kerry undertook his mission to handle the Israeli-Palestinian conflict each time Israel would announce its determination to build more settlements. This exercise of “negotiating” followed simultaneously by more settlements constitutes a pattern that has been introduced since the Oslo Accord. It is now undertaken in a much more sustained manner. Israeli Defense Minister Moshe Ya’alon provided in a crude language that so-called “negotiations” and “framework agreement” proposed by Kerry is thus treated as an interruption, which delays and perhaps stifles Israeli objectives.

The apology expressing “regret” concerning the provocative denouncement did not negate the substantive motivation and policy for his outrageous expressions.

I think that Kerry’s pursuit is well-intentioned, but unfortunately flawed because he has not extracted recognition from Israel that it is an occupying power. The absence of a clear legal definition renders “negotiations” futile. Israel considers itself unaccountable to the forth Geneva Convention, but as a claimant to retrieve historical and ideological rights besides its definition of national security.