Kerry’s “Apartheid” Reference Triggers New Recrimination

The maelstrom of indignation on the part of Israelis and their supporters at the reference to “apartheid” made by US Secretary of State Kerry last week appears to have encouraged the Palestinian side to increase the use of that term in public forums. While Israeli officials have been echoing the assertion by Prime Minister Netanyahu that “the Palestinians have chosen Hamas instead of peace,” Palestinian Authority chief negotiator Sa’ib Ariqat chided the Israelis on Tuesday, arguing that “Benjamin Netanyahu used every possible tool in order to consolidate its apartheid regime.” The April 29 end of the nine-months the parties promised to Kerry for his peace mission passed without either side agreeing to an extension.  PA President Abbas reiterated his conditions for continuing: the talks must begin with the topic of borders; prisoners must be released; and Israel must freeze its construction in areas it acquired in the 1967 war.