he bond between the US and Israel is "unbreakable," and while there may be tactical differences between the two countries occasionally, the long term strategy for Israel's security and peace in the region is the same, US Secretary of State John Kerry said in Jerusalem Thursday.
Kerry's comments, following a meeting with Prime Minster Binyamin Netanyahu, came after a month of high-profile, public disagreement between Washington and Jerusalem both over the policy toward Iran, and the talks with the Palestinians. The two men, who both eferred to the other as "my friend," took pains to present a common and amiable front.
Regarding the negotiations with the Palestinians, Netanyahu said that "Israel is ready for a historic peace" based on two states for two peoples. "It is a peace that Israel must be able to defend itself, by itself, with our own forces against any foreseeable threats."
He called on the Palestinian leadership to stop finger pointing and creating artificial crisis, and stressed – an oblique reference to the ever-returning issue of settlement construction -- that Israel is honoring "all understanding" reached in the negotiations that led to the current talks.
Kerry, relating to the talks and Netanyahu's stress on the security issue, said that "Israel's security is fundamental to these negotiations." One of the main obstacles in the talks up until now is believed to be the issue of whether Israel will retain a security presence along the Jordan River after any agreement.
Kerry said that retired US general John Allen, who he described as one of the best military minds in the US, has been charged by US President Barack Obama with analyzing the security aspects of any future agreement and "ensuring the security arrangement that we might contemplate in the context of this process will provide for greater security for Israel."
Allen, Kerry said, provided Netanyahu with "some thoughts about the practical security challenge." He said that conversation will continue during a dinner meeting, and possibly at another meeting on Friday.
Netanyahu, who has been unsparing in his criticism of the interim accord the P5+1 reached with Iran in Geneva last month, toned down his criticism a bit, concentrating on what he believes should be in the final deal with Iran, as well as reiterating his concern that the sanctions regime against Iran is in danger of unraveling.
In a final deal, he said, "we believe it is crucial to bring about a final agreement about the termination of Iran's military nuclear capability." He also said that steps must be taken to "prevent the further erosion of sanctions."
Kerry, in his brief comments, addressed both these concerns.
"I can't emphasis enough that Israel's security in this negotiation is at the top of our agenda, and the US will do everything in our power to make certain that Iran's nuclear program, [and] weaponization possibilities are terminated," he said.
Kerry said that Israel and the US agree fully on what the final status agreement with Iran should look like, "and in the days and weeks ahead we will consult very closely and continually with our Israeli friends, in order to bring about a comprehensive agreement that can withstand everybody's test."
Regarding the sanctions, Kerry promised that the US would be "vigilant" to ensure that they don't start to unravel.
"We say to any country that contemplates moving ahead of sanctions, don't; because those sanctions will continue to be enforced," Kerry stressed. "The fundamental sanctions regime of oil and banking remains absolutely in place, it has not changed. And we will step-up our enforcement through the Treasury Department and appropriate agencies."
He said that a peace agreement would need to "recognize Israel as a Jewish state" and enable it to be a country that "can defend itself by itself."
Following his meeting with Netanyahu, Kerry went to Ramallah to meet Palestinian Authority President Mahmoud Abbas.