John Kerry destined for political scrapheap

The parties reportedly still remain apart on many substantive and sensitive issues far more serious than building houses over the next six months within heavily populated and decades-long established Jewish cities, villages and towns.

More alarming than trying to interpret Kerry's ambiguous use of the word "illegitimate" - is his unambiguous claim that America has "always" considered the settlements to be illegitimate.

Kerry's predecessor Hillary Clinton would be the first to disagree with Kerry - telling

Christiane Armanpour on ABC in February 2011:

I think it is absolutely clear to say, number one, that it's been American policy for many years that settlements were illegitimate and it is the continuing goal and highest priority of the Obama administration to keep working toward a two-state solution with both Israelis and Palestinians...

"Many years" is clearly not "always".

History also incontrovertibly denies Kerry's claim.

President Woodrow Wilson said on 3 March 1919:

I am persuaded that the Allied nations, with the fullest concurrence of our own Government and people, are agreed that in Palestine shall be laid the foundation of a Jewish Commonwealth.

On 30 June 1922 - both Houses of Congress of the United States - then not a member of the League of Nations - unanimously endorsed the following joint resolution - which was signed by President Warren Harding on 21 September 1922:

Favoring the establishment in Palestine of a national home for the Jewish people.

Resolved by the Senate and House of Representatives of the United States of America in Congress assembled - That the United States of America favors the establishment in Palestine of a national home for the Jewish people, it being clearly understood that nothing shall be done which should prejudice the civil and religious rights of Christian and all other non-Jewish communities in Palestine, and that the holy places and religious buildings and sites in Palestine shall be adequately protected.

The first Report of the High Commissioner on the Administration of Palestine (1920-1925) acknowledged America's invaluable support for reconstituting the Jewish National Home in Palestine: