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December 29, 2016 12:33 pm
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President-Elect Trump: Kerry’s Speech Set Israeli-Palestinian Peace Back; ‘UN Causes Problems, Doesn’t Solve Them’

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avatar by Barney Breen-Portnoy

President-elect Donald Trump addresses reporters alongside boxing promoter Don King in Palm Beach, Florida on Wednesday. Photo: YouTube screenshot.

President-elect Donald Trump addresses reporters alongside boxing promoter Don King in Palm Beach, Florida on Wednesday. Photo: YouTube screenshot.

Rather than promoting peace, outgoing Secretary of State John Kerry’s address on the Israeli-Palestinian conflict “set it back,” President-elect Donald Trump told reporters in Florida on Wednesday.

Kerry’s speech earlier in the day “speaks for itself,” Trump said in remarks at his Mar-a-Lago estate in Palm Beach.

Among other things, Kerry asserted that ongoing Israeli settlement construction in the West Bank “risks making peace impossible.”

“We have different views,” Trump noted when asked about Kerry’s speech. “We have to have peace…we’re going to see what happens after January 20th. I think you’re going to be very impressed, I hope.”

“I’m very, very strong on Israel,” Trump went on to say. “I think Israel’s been treated very, very unfairly by a lot of different people. You look at resolutions in the United Nations, you take a look at what’s happened, [Israel is] up for 20 reprimands and other nations that are horrible places, that treat people horribly, haven’t even been reprimanded. So there is something going on and I think it is very unfair to Israel.”

Standing next to Trump was legendary boxing promoter Don King, who was waving an Israeli flag.

“The Israeli flag is about peace, you know, peace in the Middle East,” King said. “We want everyone to come together as one unit and make things happen.”

Earlier on Wednesday, as reported by The Algemeiner, Trump took to Twitter to declare the US must stop allowing Israel to “be treated with such total disdain and disrespect.”

“They [Israel] used to have a great friend in the US, but not anymore,” Trump said. “The beginning of the end was the horrible Iran deal, and now this [last week’s anti-Israeli settlement UN Security Council resolution]! Stay strong Israel, January 20th is fast approaching!”

In response, Israeli Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu tweeted, “President-elect Trump, thank you for your warm friendship and your clear-cut support for Israel!”

As reported by The Algemeiner, Trump was involved in the ultimately futile effort last week to thwart the vote on UN Security Council Resolution 2334 — which was approved Friday by a 14-0 margin, with a US abstention that allowed it to pass.

Following the vote, Trump tweeted, “As to the UN, things will be different after Jan. 20.” A day later, he added, “The big loss yesterday for Israel in the United Nations will make it much harder to negotiate peace. Too bad, but we will get it done anyway!”

On Wednesday, Trump said the UN has “such tremendous potential, but it is not living up. When do you see the United Nations solving problems? They don’t. They cause problems.”

“So, if it lives up to the potential, it’s a great thing,” he continued. “And if it doesn’t, it’s a waste of time and money.”

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