fbpx

Kerry putting Israel in ‘impossible situation,’ Israeli lawmaker writes

John Kerry has put Israel in an “impossible situation,” Knesset member Ayelet Shaked wrote in a letter to the U.S. secretary of state.
[additional-authors]
August 15, 2013

John Kerry has put Israel in an “impossible situation,” Knesset member Ayelet Shaked wrote in a letter to the U.S. secretary of state.

“You have forced us into peace talks during a period of time that the entire Middle-East is in chaos, without realizing that by doing so, you have foolishly put us in an impossible situation, in which we cannot and will not make any concessions,” Shaked, chairwoman of the Jewish Home party’s faction in the Israeli parliament, wrote in the letter sent Thursday.

Shaked also made reference to Israel’s release of Palestinian prisoners who have killed Israelis as a way of pushing the Palestinians back to the negotiating table. The two sides resumed talks Wednesday following a three-year freeze.

“By forcing Israel to capitulate to terrorism by releasing murdering terrorists with so much blood on their hands that the U.S. would never dream of releasing if it was their own citizens murdered – you are not only being extremely hypocritical, but are actually dabbling in experimentation and gambling, by putting me and my children’s lives at risk,” Shaked, 37, a mother of two from Tel Aviv, also wrote.

She also brought up jailed American spy-for-Israel Jonathan Pollard, calling the release of Palestinian prisoners “more absurd” because the U.S. has refused to release him after 26 years in prison.

Shaked suggested that Kerry turn his attention to Syria and Egypt, “where people are actually being slaughtered.”

The letter also was sent to U.S. Ambassador to Israel Dan Shapiro and Israel’s ambassador to the United States, Michael Oren.

Did you enjoy this article?
You'll love our roundtable.

Editor's Picks

A Night of Gratitude Honoring Dennis Prager

Latest Articles

A Jewish Victory

In the face of growing anti-Israel and antisemitic conduct in public schools, the Los Angeles Unified School District has delivered an important victory for our community.

Unbreakable Blue Thread: Reclaiming Our Past and Our Future

I write to you, all you first and second generations, and I assure you from generations five, six and seven that if we keep doing what we need to do, if we stand together, keep our traditions, educate ourselves in our ancient wisdom, keep Hebrew spoken and sung in our midst, we will not only endure. We Jews will thrive.

Unstuck in the Middle with You

Kwall, the Raymond P. Niro Law Professor at DePaul University College of Law, argues for a center defined by enough common commitments to make communal life possible.

Sewage Without Borders

Israel’s water security depends on what flows into the sea on the other side of all of them, and our water policy should start from that reality.

Torah Portion: Vayera

The parsha ends with the binding of Isaac, the Akeida, probably the darkest chapter in the entire Torah.

Let Them Talk

If we want our younger generations to love our faith, our culture, and our peoplehood, we need to be welcoming when they show interest and have a spark of curiosity.

A Wild and Improbable Story Hits Israel

It turns out that claim about Israel being a democracy wasn’t just propaganda. The two million Arabs who live in the world’s only Jewish state really do have the power to vote.

More news and opinions than at a Shabbat dinner, right in your inbox.