What Did Kerry Accomplish?

When U.S. Secretary of State John Kerry was leaving the Lod Airport on his way back to Washington, he made a statement that surprised many of those concerned with the Israeli-Palestinian conflict, “I believe we are closer than we have been in years to bringing about the peace and the prosperity and the security that all of the people of this region deserve.”

However, after checking the facts and statements by both parties — Israel and the Palestinians — Middle East observers found that the U.S. secretary of state had accomplished nothing, despite his statement that implies the contrary. Kerry failed miserably to achieve the desired breakthrough, even though he put intense pressure on the Palestinian side.

The Palestinian Authority announced its refusal of Gen. John Allen’s proposed security plan, describing it as a “permanent occupation.” It also rejected the economic plan and considered it a diversion to preoccupy the Palestinian people and keep them from achieving their national goals of removing the Israeli occupation, establishing an independent state with a capital in East Jerusalem, and returning the refugees.

Israel’s Channel 10 TV revealed part of the security plan the U.S. has proposed to the Palestinian president. It is a vague plan overall, based on serving Zionist goals in terms of land exchange and keeping more than 90 percent of settlements under Israeli control. It references “Greater Jerusalem” in unclear language that allows Palestinians to say they obtained their capital in East Jerusalem, while at the same time allowing the Israelis to say that the real Palestinian capital is in Abu Dis. And it does not stop there. The American proposals indicate an acceptance of Palestinian return, but without Israel being “swamped by refugees,” while Israel maintains a permanent presence on the borders of the Palestinian state.

Yesterday’s edition of Lebanese As-Safir newspaper stated that Kerry did not present final proposals to Abbas according to Palestinian sources. It said Abbas focused on trying to convince Washington to fulfill its obligation to prevent Israel from destroying the negotiations by killing Palestinians, wrecking their homes and continuing to build settlements. Here is where Kerry failed to achieve the desired breakthrough and why negotiations have been at a standstill for four months. He has prevented the talks from falling apart but failed to convince the Palestinian president to take them to the next level and reach a deal.

To be clear, we can be certain that this visit was dedicated to two goals and nothing more. First of all, it was made to pressure Palestinian Authority leaders and blackmail them into agreeing to the American security and economic plans, even though these two plans serve the schemes of the enemy and its expansionist goals. The second goal was to emphasize the American position that Israel’s security is an integral part of American security and to not allow Iran to produce a nuclear weapon.

In summary, Kerry failed to achieve the desired breakthrough. This visit proved that Washington is aligned with the enemy, and it blackmails the Authority, compelling it to give up essential Palestinian rights. All of this requires an end to these futile negotiations, which are in the interest of the enemy. Without a third intifada, which is the only way to liberate the land, establish a state and return the refugees, then there will only be further loss.