Secretary of State John F. Kerry says if he could go back, he would not have used the word “apartheid” in the context of discussing Israel and the need for a two-state solution in its conflict with Palestine.
“I will not allow my commitment to Israel to be questioned by anyone, particularly for partisan, political purposes, so I want to be crystal clear about what I believe and what I don’t believe,” Mr. Kerry said in a statement released by the State Department.
He went on to say that Israel is a vibrant state, and he does not believe, nor has he ever said publicly or privately, that Israel is an apartheid state or intends to become one.
“Anyone who knows anything about me knows that without a shred of doubt,” he said.
In a recording obtained by the Daily Beast, Mr. Kerry is quoted as saying to world leaders Friday that “a two-state solution will be clearly underscored as the only real alternative.”
“Because a unitary state winds up either being an apartheid state with second-class citizens — or it ends up being a state that destroys the capacity of Israel to be a Jewish state,” Mr. Kerry said.
On Monday, he also said he’s been around long enough to know the power of words can create a misimpression; Republicans like Sen. Ted Cruz of Texas and Rep. Michele Bachmann of Minnesota have called for Mr. Kerry’s resignation over the remarks.
“If I could rewind the tape, I would have chosen a different word to describe my firm belief that the only way in the long term to have a Jewish state and two nations and two peoples living side by side in peace and security is through a two state solution,” Mr. Kerry said.
• David Sherfinski can be reached at dsherfinski@washingtontimes.com.
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