Tensions mount over Kerry boycott claim

Jerusalem and Washington have been engaged in a war of words this week, after US Secretary of State John Kerry warned of the detrimental effect that he thinks boycotters motivated by the West Bank occupation could have on Israel.

Kerry’s message was that Israel’s continued presence in the territories could cost the country dearly in the economic sphere as a result of boycotts. “The risks are very high for Israel,” Mr Kerry said, adding that boycott calls will intensify if peace talks fail.

Israel’s Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu reacted by casting his comments as inappropriate pressure on his country.

In what appeared to be a comeback to Kerry, he declared at Sunday’s cabinet meeting that “no pressure will cause me to concede the vital interests of the State of Israel, especially the security of Israel’s citizens.” He added: “For both of these reasons, threats to boycott the State of Israel will not achieve their goal.”

Other Israeli politicians were less delicate in their rebuttal of Kerry. Intelligence Minister Yuval Steinitz said that his remarks were “offensive, unreasonable and unacceptable”.

Apparently prompted by the saga, US National Security Adviser Susan Rice declared that personal attacks against Kerry were “totally unacceptable”.

Current tension between Washington and Jerusalem extends beyond Kerry’s comments. With the nine-month timeframe for peace talks nearing its end, there is heavy pressure from the US for Israel to sign a document setting out a framework for a peace deal, but Israel is reluctant.

One of the main sticking points is that the Palestinian side is refusing to meet Netanyahu’s demand that it recognise Israel as a Jewish state. Palestinian President Mahmoud Abbas told The New York Times over the weekend that this is “out of the question”. But equally resolute, Netanyahu later commented that it is “absurd” to expect that Israel will sign any agreement without this recognition for Israel’s Jewishness.

As all of this international controversy plays out, Netanyahu is facing deep domestic frictions, caught between the left and right of his coalition. Yair Lapid, leader of the Yesh Atid party, is pressuring hard for movement on the peace process, while his other main coalition partner, Naftali Bennett of Jewish Home, is pushing in the opposite direction. On Tuesday, Bennett said that he may bolt the coalition if Netanyahu signs a framework agreement that is “inconsistent” with his values.

NATHAN JEFFAY