Kerry: With volatile Mideast, Israeli-Palestinian peace is more important than ever

US Secretary of State says that unrest between Israel and the Palestinians fuels unrest in the Middle East.

By JPOST.COM STAFF
US Secretary of State John Kerry in Cairo at the Gaza donors conference (photo credit: REUTERS)
US Secretary of State John Kerry in Cairo at the Gaza donors conference
(photo credit: REUTERS)
Achieving peace between Israel and the Palestinians is more critical than ever, US Secretary of State John Kerry said Thursday during remarks at a White House ceremony for the Muslim holiday of Eid al-Adha.
 
"I think that it is more critical than ever that we be fighting for peace, and I think it is more necessary than ever... As I went around and met with people in the course of our discussions about the ISIL (Islamic State) coalition, the truth is we – there wasn’t a leader I met with in the region who didn’t raise with me spontaneously the need to try to get peace between Israel and the Palestinians, because it was a cause of recruitment and of street anger and agitation that they felt," Kerry said.
The US leader added that in order to achieve peace, both sides must make compromises.
"So what we need to do is recognize that we need to build peace through specific partnerships. One partnership is specifically the effort to try to drive towards this peace, to have a compromise, to find a way to create two states that can live together side by side, two peoples, with both of their aspirations being respected. I still believe that’s possible, and I still believe we need to work towards it," he said.
Earlier this week, while in Cairo for a Gaza donor conference, Kerry called for a renewed commitment to achieving Middle East peace, saying a lasting deal between Israel, the Palestinians and all their neighbors could be achieved.
"Out of this conference must come not just money but a renewed commitment from everybody to work for peace that meets the aspirations of all, for Israelis, for Palestinians for all people of this region. And I promise you the full commitment of president Obama, myself and the United States to try to do that," Kerry told the Gaza reconstruction conference in Cairo.