Former U.S. Secretary of State John Kerry said Prime Minister Netanyahu made confronting Iran 'the real goal' in recent months and spent much of his career 'incessantly beating the Iran card' instead of listening to the Oslo Accords or trying to advance peace, according to a statement circulated on Israeli Telegram channels.
Former U.S. Secretary of State John Kerry criticized Israeli Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu in remarks circulated Monday afternoon on Israeli Telegram channels. Kerry stated that Netanyahu's focus on confronting Iran in recent months was 'the real goal' and a 'longtime wish,' and that the prime minister spent much of his career 'incessantly beating the Iran card' instead of engaging with the Oslo Accords or advancing the peace process.
The comments come against the backdrop of an ongoing U.S. air campaign and diplomatic efforts toward a nuclear agreement with Iran — a framework Kerry helped negotiate in 2015. Netanyahu has been a vocal opponent of that deal and of the current Trump administration's emerging accord with Tehran. Kerry's remarks echoed previous criticisms of Netanyahu, whom he clashed with during the Obama administration over both the Iran deal and Israeli-Palestinian peace efforts.
The remarks are attributed to Kerry by the Telegram channels that circulated them. No video or additional corroboration was provided in the batch.
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