Kerry angers Israel with talk of ‘binational state’

Palestinians said it is rooted in frustration over years of failed talks and lack of hope of gaining statehood.

In addition, the top USA diplomat warned against the security consequences for Israel if the Palestinian Authority (PA) were to collapse.

A spokesman for Sweden’s foreign ministry on Sunday denied that Wallstrom had accused Israel of conducting extra-judicial executions, describing her remarks as “a general statement”.

Later Sunday, police said a Palestinian intentionally crashed his auto into two young people walking on a sidewalk in Jerusalem, injuring them before he got out of the vehicle brandishing a knife and stabbed an officer.

A soldier who was passing by at the time shot the attacker, police said.

Near-daily attacks in Israel began in September and have shown no signs of relenting.

Wallström responded that Israel has “the right to defend itself”, but then went on to say that the response could not be “extrajudicial executions” or a reaction that was “disproportionate”, with the “number of dead on the other side greater than the original death toll by several factors”.

If it were to happen, Israel would be forced to assume all governance in the occupied West Bank, he said.

Tensions between Palestinian protesters and Israeli forces in the occupied West Bank and the Gaza Strip continue unabated.

Israelis who fear this scenario and see a future of internecine conflict, global economic boycotts and increasing isolation want a pullout now, from at least most of the West Bank, even without an agreement with the Palestinians.

And last Wednesday, Israeli newspaper Yedioth Ahronoth reported that a planned visit by Belgian Foreign Minister Didier Reynders to Israel had been cancelled after he was told Netanyahu wouldn’t meet due to the EU’s determination to tag settlement-made goods with him.

“It seems she expects Israel’s citizens to bare their throats to those trying to stab them”, he said. “But the continued settlement growth raises honest questions about Israel’s long-term intentions and will only make separating from the Palestinians much more hard”, he said. “But in order for there to be peace, the other side needs to decide that it also wants peace”.

Hotovely hinted at a possible exclusion of the Swedish government from Israeli efforts to revive peacemaking efforts with the Palestinians that have been stalled since early 2014.

“Sweden has crossed all red lines in relations with Israel”. “This is defamation of Israel and the statements are distancing Sweden from the ranks of enlightened nations that can take part in the dialogue about rights in the region”.