http://www.israelhayom.com/site/newsletter_article.php?id=15401Dermer: Kerry was not trying to pressure Israel
In Time magazine interview, Israeli Ambassador to U.S. Ron Dermer defends U.S. Secretary of State John Kerry, who was widely criticized in Israel last week for saying that Israel may face boycotts if the current peace talks with the Palestinians fail.
Israeli Ambassador to the U.S. Ron Dermer told Time magazine that U.S. Secretary of State John Kerry was not trying to pressure Israel when he recently said that Israel may face boycotts and further delegitimization if the current peace talks with the Palestinians fail.
"I think [Kerry] was making a descriptive statement," Dermer, who took over from Michael Oren at the Israeli Embassy in Washington last year, told Time. "I don't think he was doing it in order to pressure Israel."
Kerry's words prompted widespread criticism in Israel. An Israel Hayom poll among the Israeli Jewish public found that 61% thought Kerry threatened Israel.
A day after Kerry made the comment, Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu said anti-Israel boycott efforts were "immoral and unjust" and would not achieve their goal.
Last Friday, Foreign Minister Avigdor Lieberman defended Kerry, calling the secretary of state "a true friend of Israel."
In the Time interview, published on Monday, Dermer said, "Secretary Kerry is opposed to the boycotting of Israel, something he made clear again this week. President Obama has also been crystal clear about that."
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Yes, it's time to curse this beast.