By definition, an arbitrator must be neutral. Mr. Kerry, with all due respect, to succeed in such a task and bring both parties to an agreement, this should be done diplomatically, and not by repeating the same European threats and American threats, even if only implied. Threats lead only to results contrary to those desired. The current stance insults Israel and the Jewish people everywhere.

The Europeans are in no position to criticize Israel as they are in large part the cause of the incredible suffering of the Jewish people. I understand why the Israelis complain, and he should not forget that Jewish people everywhere in the world have suffered for centuries from the Europeans and elsewhere in the world through discrimination, persecution, expulsion, libel and injustice, from ancient times to the Romans, the Spanish Inquisition, pogroms, the Holocaust, as well as the Dhimi in the Arab countries, where Jews were once living in great numbers.

But the Obama administration is not taking into consideration all this and is not listening to Israel as an ally. U.S. Ambassador to the UN, Susan Rice, who is trying to defend Mr. Kerry, is not well placed for this kind of intervention, particularly given the lie she had repeated, when speaking of Benghazi. In my view she has lost all her credibility, even if Obama, in order to protect her, has promoted her to a higher position than she had before, which does not change the facts.

I wonder why Mr. Kerry is not able to defend himself, and needs Ms. Susan Rice to intervene. In my opinion,  Mr. Kerry is not qualified to be Secretary of State, nor a spokesman for America.

Copyright 2014 Emile Tubiana