US State Dept 'surprised' at Theresa May rebuke over Israel

The US has criticised Theresa May after her office rebuked US Secretary of State John Kerry for comments he made about Israel.
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Mr Kerry caused controversy when he branded the Netanyahu administration the "most right-wing in Israel's history".

In what Downing Street admitted was an unusual move, the Prime Minister's spokesman responded by saying it was "not appropriate" to attack the composition of the democratically elected government of an ally.
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In comments which appeared more in tune with the outlook being taken by President-elect Donald Trump, Mrs May said it was wrong to focus on single issues like settlement building, rather than the wider peace process.











Video:Kerry: Israel threatening Mid-East peace

Earlier this week Mr Kerry accused the Israeli government of undermining attempts to reach a two-state solution to the conflict with the Palestinians by continuing to build settlements in the West Bank.
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While the UK said it opposed such developments in the occupied territories, Number 10 made clear a more broadly ranged approach was needed to encourage peace.

A spokesman for the Prime Minister said: "The settlements are far from the only problem in this conflict. In particular, the people of Israel deserve to live free from the threat of terrorism, with which they have had to cope for too long.

"And we do not believe that it is appropriate to attack the composition of the democratically elected government of an ally.

"The Government believes that negotiations will only succeed when they are conducted between the two parties, supported by the international community."











Video:Netanyahu: 'Deep disappointment' at Kerry speech

The US state department reacted with similar vigour to the UK government's statement.

A spokesperson told The Guardian newspaper: "We are surprised by the UK Prime Minister's office statement given that Secretary Kerry's remarks - which covered the full range of threats to a two-state solution, including terrorism, violence, incitement and settlements - were in-line with the UK's own longstanding policy and its vote at the United Nations last week."

The UK backed the UN resolution passed last week that condemned the continued expansion of settlements in the Palestinian territories.

But the Prime Minister's spokesman told Sky News she was expressing concern about the language Mr Kerry had used.



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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!
4:33 AM - 25 Dec 2016

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Some are viewing Downing Street's move as an attempt to align the UK with the incoming Trump administration.

President-elect Trump, who made pro-Israel comments during the election campaign, responded angrily to the UN resolution, claiming on Twitter: "The big loss for Israel in the United Nations will make it much harder to negotiate peace. Too bad, but we will get it done anyway!"

Syrian ceasefire threatened by fresh clashes near Damascus

There are concerns about the durability of a nationwide ceasefire in Syria after government forces and their allies clashed with rebels.

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The fresh fighting could put the truce - brokered by Russia and Turkey and agreed between President Bashar al Assad's regime and opposition fighters - under pressure.

Helicopter gunships were reportedly used to attack groups, including the Fateh al Sham Front, in Wadi Barada, a rebel-held valley northwest of the capital Damascus.

The government said the al Qaeda affiliate, previously known as al Nusra Front, was excluded from the truce, which came into force at midnight on Thursday.
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But the opposition said it believed the ceasefire applied to all of Syria, including areas where Fateh al Sham was present.

A spokesman for Fateh al Sham Front criticised the ceasefire for not declaring the fate of Syria's president Bashar al Assad.

In a statement, the unidentified spokesman said: "The solution is to topple the criminal regime militarily".











Video:Syrian government agrees ceasefire with rebels

Islamic State and the Kurdish YPG militia have also been excluded from the ceasefire deal.

It is not clear which side started the latest clashes in a country where repeated international efforts towards peace have failed.
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The army began an offensive last week to retake Wadi Barada, which provides most of Damascus' water supplies.

The military has accused rebels of deliberately targeting the infrastructure there.

Government warplanes have also carried out airstrikes in the central province of Hama, according to monitors.

Meanwhile, Russian fighter jets have hit three IS targets around the northern town of al Bab over the past 24 hours, according to Turkey's military.











Video:Ceasefire agreement is 'fragile' and needs 'special attention'

The action could be the first Russian support for Turkish army operations in the area.

The ceasefire, backed by Assad ally Moscow and opposition-supporting Ankara, has appeared to have mostly held elsewhere.

It is designed to pave the way for a political solution to a conflict that has claimed more than 310,000 lives since it began with anti-regime protests in March 2011.

Despite backing opposing sides in the war, Moscow and Ankara are pushing for talks between Damascus and the rebels to begin next month in Kazakhstan.