Netanyahu: Don’t lecture us

most said.

“The settler agenda is defining the future of Israel and their stated purpose is clear. They believe in (a) one-state, greater Israel,” Kerry added.

Trump, who slammed Obama on Twitter shortly before Kerry’s speech, recently named David Friedman as his pick for U.S. ambassador to Israel. Friedman has personally funded West Bank settlements and is close not only to Israel, but to Netanyahu and Israeli rightwing politicians.

Selecting him is the latest indication extreme elements,” he of how different Trump’s approach to Israel and Netanyahu’s government is likely to be. Trump has also promised to move the U.S. Embassy from Tel Aviv to Jerusalem, a break from longstanding policy. Trump’s Wednesday tweets included the assertion, “We cannot continue to let Israel be treated with such total disdain and disrespect.” Netanyahu responded by thanking Trump “for your warm friendship and your clear-cut support for Israel” in a tweet. Kerry made clear that the outgoing Obama administration has no real power to push for the policies he outlined. But he said the speech was intended to outline how the Obama administration sees the only way forward.

“President Obama and I know that the incoming administration has signaled that they may take a different path and even suggested breaking from the longstanding U.S. policies on settlements, Jerusalem and the possibility of a two-state solution. That is for them to decide.

“But we cannot in good conscience do nothing and say nothing when we see the hope of peace slipping away,” Kerry said.