The hopes for peace and Palestinian statehood fade away

JOHN KERRY, the American secretary of state (pictured), chose to mark the end of his long public career with a valedictory speech on December 28th devoted to the Israeli-Palestinian conflict. Coming just three weeks before he is due to step down, it was an admission by America’s senior diplomat that he, like so many before him, had failed to make any noticeable contribution to ending this stubborn struggle.

The speech was essentially an analysis of the policies of the current Israeli government which Mr Kerry described “the most right-wing in Israeli history, with an agenda driven by the most extreme elements”. He questioned its desire for peace with the Palestinians, given the relentless expansion of Jewish settlements in lands conquered by Israel in 1967. “Does it really want an intensifying conflict in the West Bank?” asked Mr Kerry. “How does that help Israel’s security? How does that help the region?”