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Israeli deputy minister: Kerry's proposals 'move us further apart'

In an interview with Al-Monitor, Ofir Akunis says he agrees with Israeli Defense Minister Moshe Ya'alon about US Secretary of State John Kerry's approach to the peace process, but would have said it differently.
U.S. Secretary of State John Kerry reacts following his meeting with Palestinian Authority President Mahmoud Abbas in Bethlehem, November 6, 2013. Kerry urged Israel on Wednesday to limit settlement building in occupied territories to help push peace talks with the Palestinians back on track. REUTERS/Jason Reed   (WEST BANK - Tags: POLITICS) - RTX152FN
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Defense Minister Moshe Ya’alon apologized Jan. 14 for remarks he made in closed talks that were later disclosed by Yedioth Ahronoth. According to the report, he said US Secretary of State John Kerry “acts out of an incomprehensible obsession and a messianic feeling.” However, his apology does not change the fact that most members of the Likud think exactly like him about the negotiations with the Palestinians and Kerry’s efforts to mediate between the parties. No senior Likud member has spoken out against the essence of what Ya’alon said. If there was any criticism, it was directed only at the style of the remarks.

Such a situation says a lot about Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu’s political ability to lead an agreement based on the principle of the two-state solution. As we found out again this week, Netanyahu doesn’t have a party behind him to support such a move. In fact, his situation is even worse than that faced by late Prime Minister Ariel Sharon before the disengagement from Gaza in 2005. Though a group of Likud Knesset members did rebel against him, most of the faction followed his lead. Apparently Netanyahu will not enjoy the same support.

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