Kerry to Qatar: Golan must return to Syria
WikiLeaks cable reveals US senator told Qatar leaders that Israel must make tough decision despite Syrian support of Hezbollah. Kerry: East J'lem should be Palestinian capital
United States Senator and chairman of the Senate Foreign Relations Committee John Kerry said during a meeting with Qatar leaders last February that the Golan Heights must be returned to Syria and that east Jerusalem must become the Palestinian capital as part of an Israeli-Palestinian peace treaty.
In a cable reporting the meeting's content leaked Tuesday night on WikiLeaks, Kerry also stressed that Syrian President Bashar Assad continues to arm Hezbollah and intervene in Lebanese matters.
Kerry served as US President Barack Obama's special emissary in meetings with Assad, but was unsuccessful in convincing him to strategically disconnect from Iran and stop supporting terror organizations. Another cable published on WikiLeaks detailed Kerry's February meeting with Qatari Emir Khalifa Bin Hamad and Prime Minister Hamad Al Thani.
The Qatari Emir told Kerry that one must focus on Syria in order to achieve Israeli-Arab peace. Kerry agreed with him, but mentioned that Assad must make tough decisions and take risks. The senator added that Netanyahu has to compromise and return the Golan Heights as part of the peace equation.
Qatari Emir to Kerry: Don't believe Iran
Kerry was not forthcoming about his own personal views in the meetings, but rather presented the Obama administration's policy.
In regards to Jerusalem, the US senator told the Qatari leaders that he is aware that control of the Al-Aqsa Mosque and the establishment of a Palestinian capital in east Jerusalem is not negotiable as far as the Palestinians are concerned.
However, he made it clear that Israel will not yield on a number of issues. He said that the Jewish character of the State of Israel is none negotiable and that the demilitarization and borders of the Palestinian state can only be solved though negotiations.
The cable also stated that towards the end of the meeting, the Qatari Emir told Kerry that the Iranians can not be trusted. The Emir added that after 30 years of experience with Iran, they will say 100 words to you but you can believe only one.
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