John Kerry has recently met a number of top Israeli officials, including Moshe Yaalon, far left
The
US has condemned as "offensive" reported comments by Israel's defence
minister about Secretary of State John Kerry's Middle East peace
proposals.
State Department spokeswoman Jen Psaki said the alleged
comments by Moshe Yaalon were "inappropriate" given America's support to
Israel's security.It was a rare rebuke to America's ally.
Mr Yaalon was quoted by Israel's Yediot Ahronot newspaper as saying Mr Kerry was acting out of "misplaced obsession and messianic fervour".
'Framework' plan He said a security plan Mr Kerry had presented to Israel was "not worth the paper it was written on".
"John Kerry - who has come to us determined and is acting out of an incomprehensible obsession and messianic fervour - cannot teach me anything about the conflict with the Palestinians," he is quoted as saying.
Mr Yaalon made his comments in private conversations in Israel and the US, the Israeli newspaper said.
His remarks also drew criticism from Israeli Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu. "Even when we have disagreements with the United States, they always pertain to the matter at hand, and are not personal," Mr Netanyahu said in parliament, referring to Mr Yaalon, a member of his right-wing Likud party.
Mr Kerry has made a series of visits to the Middle East in recent months in an attempt to inject momentum into Israeli-Palestinian peace talks re-launched last July.
But the talks have so far shown little sign of progress.
Earlier this month, Mr Kerry held talks with Israeli and Palestinian representatives in an effort to secure a "framework" for a final Israeli-Palestinian peace agreement.
He hoped to achieve consensus on core issues - including security, borders, Jerusalem and Palestinian refugees - so progress could be made towards signing a comprehensive treaty by April, US officials said.
Mr Kerry's peace proposals reportedly include security arrangements in the Jordan Valley - between a future Palestinian state and Jordan.
However, Israel is said to be demanding that it maintains a military presence under any future peace deal with the Palestinians.
While the peace talks have been continuing, Israel last week announced plans to build 1,400 new homes in Jewish settlements in the West Bank and East Jerusalem.
Palestinian negotiator Saeb Erekat said it showed "Israel's clear commitment to the destruction of peace efforts".
A dispute over settlement construction led to the collapse of the last peace talks.
About 500,000 Jews live in more than 100 settlements built since Israel's 1967 occupation of the West Bank and East Jerusalem. The settlements are considered illegal under international law, though Israel disputes this.
