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John Kerry’s First Trip Includes 9 European and Middle Eastern Countries — Guess Which One He’s Skipping

Feb. 19, 2013 3:06pm Erica Ritz

Sec. of State John Kerry Skips Israel in First Official Trip Overseas, Will Visit 9 European and Middle Eastern Countries

In this Feb. 14, 2013 file photo, Secretary of State John Kerry speaks at the State Department in Washington. (Photo: AP)

Secretary of State John Kerry will make his first official trip overseas next week, with a jam-packed travel agenda that includes meetings in nine nations across Europe and the Middle East.

Despite expectations that he would visit Israel to push for more peace talks with the Palestinians ahead of President Obama’s first presidential trip next month, the State Department announced Tuesday that there will be no stops in Israel for John Kerry this trip.

He will, however, be stopping in: Britain, Germany, France, Italy, Turkey, Egypt, Saudi Arabia, United Arab Emirates and Qatar.

State Department spokeswoman Victoria Nuland explained that Kerry is bypassing Jerusalem and Ramallah while Israeli political parties continue to form a coalition government after recent elections.

“The secretary will be traveling there with the president when he visits later in the spring in lieu of making his own separate trip in February,” she explained.

Kerry departs for his trip on February 24, and will reportedly focus on the conflicts in Mali, Syria and Afghanistan.

“His visit to Berlin will also be an opportunity to reconnect with the city in which he lived as a child,” the State Department adds.

The 2004 presidential candidate, sworn in to replace Hillary Rodham Clinton earlier this month, is scheduled to return to Washington on March 6.

TheBlaze has reached out to Christians United for Israel and the Anti-Defamation League for comment.

Click here to read Kerry’s complete itinerary, courtesy of the State Department.

The Associated Press contributed to this report.

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Comments (99)

thegreatcarnac
Posted on February 19, 2013 at 4:05pm
I am surprised he didn’t go to Vietnam to visit all the relatives of the thousands of dead VC he killed single-handedly when he was there. He is a war hero…….you know. Ask him., he will tell you.

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- Free_Thought
  Posted on February 19, 2013 at 4:46pm
  Him and chris kyle. Whoever has the most kills is the biggest hero.
  
  Report this comment
- lildrummerboy
  Posted on February 19, 2013 at 6:03pm
  Chris Kyle was a hero you dolt! John Kerry ranks up there with Hanoi Jane…
  
  Report this comment
- Rileydj
  Posted on February 19, 2013 at 7:09pm
  Yes – muppet face is the biggest coward and valor thief to come out of the VN war. Just like KimJongObama, and the rest of the emperor’s staff, they are all anti Semitic and anti American!
  
  Report this comment
- johnpaulkuchtajr
  Posted on February 19, 2013 at 7:19pm
  John Kerry, aided and abetted by Hillary Clinton, was calling Syria’s Bashar al Assad a “reformer” long after his machine guns were mowing-down Syrian citizens.
  
  Frankly, maybe it’s just as well that Kerry stays away from Israel. Something tells me that BiBi would just as soon kick Kerry’s a$$ as look at him.
  
  “Remember Benghazi and ALL the Traitors!”
  
  Report this comment
- bobdesign
  Posted on February 20, 2013 at 7:35am
  Not only is he the new Obama world destroyer, Frankenstein, look alike, 57 kind of gigolo, he is also the premier all time, single greatest, unabashed greatest Gasbag of the 21st Century.
  
  Report this comment
moreteaplease
Posted on February 19, 2013 at 4:04pm
GroundZero is Nuclear Demolition x3
Posted on February 19, 2013 at 3:34pm

Semite: of or relating to the middle east especially in language

THIS ENTIRE COUNTRY IS ANTI-SEMITIC, YET YOU DENY BEING A PART OF THE KILLING!
——————————————————–
What, for taking out a bunch of nut jobs who want to see my head ( and yours ) on a chopping block? Feel guilty if you want but I have no problems with it.

And BTW…

Definition of ANTI-SEMITISM
: hostility toward or discrimination against Jews as a religious, ethnic, or racial group
— an·ti–Se·mit·ic adjective
— an·ti–Sem·ite noun
——————————————————
Did you write your own dictionary or something.

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- pdw
  Posted on February 19, 2013 at 8:10pm
  Well we see you like to play with words but that never made anyone right. No this country is not against Jews nor their beliefs. But we are against those that wish to destroy this country. In the 76 years of my life I have never seen the Country of Israel attach America. But I have seen the results of Muslims or those who claim to be Muslims attack this country and murder thousands of citizens of this country.
  
  Report this comment
aproudinfidel
Posted on February 19, 2013 at 4:00pm
Wait a minute…is that Bibi in the background saying stay away traitorous coward, I think it is.

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- TurboCat
  Posted on February 20, 2013 at 5:01am
  Why the hell did the Senate ever approve this stinking piece of dog crap? (…..John McCain)!
  
  Report this comment
DEFCON4
Posted on February 19, 2013 at 3:51pm
Mr. Netanyahu is focusing, right now, on forming a coalition government that
is large and diverse as possible that will Unify Israel.
Mr. Kerry would simply ‘be in the way’.

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- RaydocX
  Posted on February 19, 2013 at 4:01pm
  the Israelis have decided that anyone from the Obama administration would merely be in the way, unless they are actively aiding and abetting the enemy, which looks to have happened in the last term.
  
  doubtless unlike the press lemmings and the sheeple, Israel new better than to believe a word that came out of Kerry’s mouth, considering his facility with lies, and his boss.
  
  Report this comment
UNALIEN
Posted on February 19, 2013 at 3:43pm
The Obama administration has been bought by MIddle Eastern States oil money…

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- Free_Thought
  Posted on February 19, 2013 at 4:48pm
  Sorry pal the pictures of GWB holding hands wih the saudi prince says otherwise.
  
  Report this comment
- UNALIEN
  Posted on February 19, 2013 at 5:00pm
  FREE_THOUGHT
  
  sorry dude, the fact that Bush was cozy with the Saudis doesn’t mean that Obama isn’t…
  
  Report this comment
- lildrummerboy
  Posted on February 19, 2013 at 6:06pm
  free_thought is not = to intelligent_thought…
  
  Report this comment
walnutportconservative
Posted on February 19, 2013 at 3:36pm
Israel stumbled over Jesus, as prophesied. The nations are stumbling over Jerusalem, also as prophesied. (Zechariah 12: 3)

Yet, in the heart of God, the Jewish people, the Promised Land and the Book all belong, and will yet live, together. Most likely John has read the book.

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Exidor
Posted on February 19, 2013 at 3:35pm
Its just as well. I heard The Munsters aren’t that popular over there anyway.

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- Cavallo
  Posted on February 19, 2013 at 3:50pm
  Ha! Love it. Although I also wonder if Lurch from the Adam’s family would get any better press?
  
  Report this comment
barber2
Posted on February 19, 2013 at 3:35pm
Long John Kerry, our old 60s radical ( Ayers must be thrilled ) , just following in Hillary’s Carbon busting / tax waisting Footprints to make the world, Israel and the United States less safe and our enemies more emboldened . Wonder if he’ll be going under the bus like Stevens ( these Democrats who join Obama’s cabinet are as naive as the young who vote for Mr. Chicago who only follows those Rules For Radicals which do not value loyalty as a priority – Maybe Theresa should hire Long John some extra security with the Heinz / Buffet deal that just went through ! )

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cdn1979
Posted on February 19, 2013 at 3:32pm
he’s going in the spring with the president. Why exactly does america have to bow to israel? what does america get from them?

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- The_Jerk
  Posted on February 19, 2013 at 3:38pm
  Careful. These zealots will soon be calling you a bigoted antisemite for questioning the obvious. But, since I care little about labels and more about truth, allow me to expand the questioning. Why would Israel figure so prominently in ‘our’ selection of a Secretary of Defense and CIA chief?
  
  Overly represented minority is the only answer.
  
  Report this comment
- SciPro
  Posted on February 19, 2013 at 3:38pm
  Are you serious? Israel is one of the few free nations that can be counted on .. to have our backs if we let them .. who else can we say that about? … Besides, many of us are most likely descendants from The tribes of Israel of long ago, you know .. where Christian values originate from? … The whole world has been touched by this record .. The Bible …
  
  Report this comment
- Fubared
  Posted on February 19, 2013 at 3:40pm
  They get to pre-test many of our weapons platforms on the jihad jerks. It’s quality control, to great effects too. Win win win, win.
  
  Report this comment
- Fubared
  Posted on February 19, 2013 at 3:55pm
  Jihad Jerk, you sound just like an Iranian mullah. How odd. You support the same stuff. Like OWS and the crappy 1% mantra. And hezbos, and hamas, and nazis and garden variety aryans. So special in that regard. You have all kinds of friends we just don’t know about huh? oh, lalalalalalalalalanazi.
  
  Report this comment
- cdn1979
  Posted on February 19, 2013 at 3:55pm
  Scipro, you’re so full of crap. most of us would not be descendants of the tribes of israel. and when did they have america’s back? In afghanistan?? No, that’ wasn’t it. In Iraq???? Nope, not there either. those are the wars amerca wages on behalf of israel. 6000+ dead american’t s for israel. Israel is not responsible for the bible. God is responsible for the bible and for those he brought to spread the message. not a country that was established in the 40′s. At least the other guy below you gave an honest answer. america uses them as a training center for weapons.
  
  Report this comment
- UNALIEN
  Posted on February 19, 2013 at 4:00pm
  CDN1979
  Posted on February 19, 2013 at 3:32pm
  he’s going in the spring with the president. Why exactly does america have to bow to israel? what does america get from them?
  ……………………………..
  
  Exactly, why bow to Israel when you can bow to the Saudi King… Obama
  
  Report this comment
- RaydocX
  Posted on February 19, 2013 at 4:05pm
  CDN, at worst we fought Iraq for protection of ‘cheap’ oil…
  at best, we reacted to a country that supported those willing to do more than just shout and burn flags and advertise that they hate us.
  
  Israel wasn’t beging us to liberate Kuwait. And they could not ‘help’ in Iraq or afghanistan or the muslims would freak out.
  
  stop believing all the bad press you here about a religion that is not promoting jihad on all others.
  
  Report this comment
- Fubared
  Posted on February 19, 2013 at 4:07pm
  Uh, CDN, the old CNC, that pesky wabbit Bush asked them to refrain from action, and they did. Although rockets came at all hours from all directions into Israel(like the last 30 years), they refrained in order to contain our rabid thirst for blood and wmd’s inside of a set region. Having gotten our fill of delicious bagdad blood, they continued to feed humint where it is needed and real. Just on the restraint they have shown alone, we should give them all of S. Florida, Manhattan and parts of Vegas. Blood lust for sun and sand seems just, no? Damn but I am still thirsty.
  
  Report this comment
- ofass
  Posted on February 19, 2013 at 4:11pm
  That is right, they test our weapons. Jerky be aware where you stay in Gaza there, we do not like to lose such a great story teller and comedian (yet a Nazi but still with a special quality).
  
  Report this comment
- The_Jerk
  Posted on February 19, 2013 at 5:16pm
  RaydocX, their words.
  
  http://www.haaretz.com/news/features/white-man-s-burden-1.14110
  
  Report this comment
- lildrummerboy
  Posted on February 19, 2013 at 6:08pm
  over represented minority…sounds like the gay population..the 6% wagging the whole dog…i’ll stick with Israel thanks!
  
  Report this comment
- The_Jerk
  Posted on February 19, 2013 at 6:16pm
  lildrummerboy, if you stand with Israel you must be an Israeli-firster. Can not serve two masters. You are the problem.
  
  Report this comment
- SON_OF_RJJINGADSDEN
  Posted on February 19, 2013 at 6:54pm
  @THE_JERK
  Please go JERK somewhere decent people can’t see you or hear from you. YOURSENSEI may have some pictures of Jagger you can borrow.
  
  Report this comment
- tzion
  Posted on February 19, 2013 at 10:27pm
  @Jerk
  “Can not serve two masters.”
  
  Since when does supporting Israel mean that we are “serving them”? Moreover, America isn’t my master. Liberty means I can do what I feel is best not what you say is best. I, for one, believe supporting Israel is the right thing and if you disagree, too bad. You don’t have the right to tell me I can’t support Israel and you certainly don’t have the right to insist that I choose between Israel and the US.
  
  I know quite well where that line is from Jerk and your use of it couldn’t be more inaccurate. The whole point of America was not to be a country defined by a border, an ethnicity, or even a common foe. It was to be a country built upon a set of principles. And if those principles compel me to support another country in addition to this one, then I must do so to avoid compromising those principles.
  
  Your saying one can’t support both Israel and the US is like saying a person who has a best friend can’t have a second best friend without weakening his friendship with the first. If that’s truly how you see the world, then I pity any friend of yours.
  
  Report this comment
SciPro
Posted on February 19, 2013 at 3:30pm
Ok Blaze .. here is my comment .. unfortunately, The White House is probably setting Kerry’s agenda.
And that makes it a certainty that Israel, the best friend we have in the middle east, is almost an enemy of the USA. Past actions have proven that, so what’s another slap to Israel’s face … Too bad .. Obama’s white house is acting like the jump off the cliff is exhilarating, but the sudden stop at the bottom, is a bitch. I’m going to do all I can to support Israel, generally, and it’s people!

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Blitz
Posted on February 19, 2013 at 3:30pm
John has his marching orders plain and simple. I heard he’s going to use the time to move his yacht :).

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eellsworth
Posted on February 19, 2013 at 3:28pm
It just appeared to me, I see a Hillary/Kerry Presidential ticket coming 2016

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- barber2
  Posted on February 19, 2013 at 3:49pm
  EELLS: Oh, please. That is just a cruel thing to say. Visions too horrid . I will be suffering from PTS and have nightmares…
  
  Report this comment
- dinker
  Posted on February 19, 2013 at 3:51pm
  Oh geeeezeus! You might have something there—I hadn’t thot of that one—let us pray—say it ain’t so!
  
  Report this comment
- Patriot72
  Posted on February 19, 2013 at 4:01pm
  With Hillary banking $100,000+ per speaking event over the next 3-ish years to build a campaign war chest,pairing up with the very wealthy Kerry family would give them access to an awful lot of money before a penny of outsourced contributions would hit.
  
  Report this comment
- stopprintn
  Posted on February 19, 2013 at 4:21pm
  They could use the platform ‘ The Great Lurch Forward ‘
  
  Report this comment
huey6367
Posted on February 19, 2013 at 3:25pm
I so wished he was going to Libya … unguarded.

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- watashbuddyfriend
  Posted on February 19, 2013 at 3:56pm
  Me too!
  
  Report this comment
- Fubared
  Posted on February 19, 2013 at 3:57pm
  Slathered in humus and only in a burkha.
  
  Report this comment
- huey6367
  Posted on February 19, 2013 at 4:19pm
  @fubared
  
  STOP!!! My nipples are getting hard
  
  Report this comment
- SON_OF_RJJINGADSDEN
  Posted on February 19, 2013 at 6:57pm
  @HUEY6367
  @FUBARED
  Have not laughed that hard in a while.
  
  Report this comment
moreteaplease
Posted on February 19, 2013 at 3:24pm
This is the most anti-Semitic administration I have ever seen.

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- GroundZero is Nuclear Demolition x3
  Posted on February 19, 2013 at 3:34pm
  Semite: of or relating to the middle east especially in language
  
  THIS ENTIRE COUNTRY IS ANTI-SEMITIC, YET YOU DENY BEING A PART OF THE KILLING!!
  
  Report this comment
- WillG
  Posted on February 19, 2013 at 4:18pm
  I am an Anti-Dentite.
  
  Report this comment
83plus
Posted on February 19, 2013 at 3:24pm
An easy guess

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doomytram
Posted on February 19, 2013 at 3:21pm
He will be reporting on how Bozo will be keeping the youtube film maker behind bars forever, and that the USA will be protecting the feelings of the middle east by burning more pallets of bibles this year to make up for our own insolence. The Israel visit isn’t optimal right now.

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- civilwarcometh
  Posted on February 19, 2013 at 3:26pm
  http://weaselzippers.us/2013/02/19/report-hagel-said-israel-headed-towards-being-an-apartheid-state-netanyahu-a-radical/
  
  Report this comment
Walkabout
Posted on February 19, 2013 at 3:18pm
Look on the bright side in about 5 years Iran will be an Ally of Israel & the U.S.

That is the way I see the cookie breaking. More bloodshed 1st.

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Rickfromillinois
Posted on February 19, 2013 at 3:17pm
Obama skipped Israel during his tour of the Middle-East, and now Kerry is doing the same. Think that they might be trying to send a message?

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The_Jerk
Posted on February 19, 2013 at 3:16pm
That’s because Israel is a tiny, little, insignificant nation, whose worth and importance has been artificially inflated by our media.

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- Fubared
  Posted on February 19, 2013 at 3:38pm
  Not belligerent? As a nazi and muslim appeaser, could you tell us what your world looks like without Jews and Israeli’s? No reason to lalalalalalalala then. What would you do without them? Laser like focus on women, peeps of colors and all non-aryans then? Lalalalalalalanazi.
  
  Report this comment
- barber2
  Posted on February 19, 2013 at 3:46pm
  JERK: now why would we want to support a fellow free, capitalist ally with exists in a sea of dysfunctional, angry, crazy, Western- hating , women-repressing Muslim fanatics who have said they will wipe it off the earth ? Oh, and that ” media thing” you mentioned ? Hogwash . The MSM is in bed with you and Obama who side with the anti-Israel factions ( Obama doesn’t value word of honor or alliances . Obama is all about ” change ” and the politics of the International Far Left / anti-capitalists )
  
  Report this comment
- ofass
  Posted on February 19, 2013 at 4:13pm
  Sooooo insignificant that some Jerk is talking about all day long…
  
  Report this comment
- Walkabout
  Posted on February 19, 2013 at 4:35pm
  Your more likely to get a scientists inventing something worthy of a patent than many other countries …
  the Arab countries not so much.
  
  Yes, Israel is small in terms of landmass but like Singapore is very important.
  
  Report this comment
- Walkabout
  Posted on February 19, 2013 at 4:36pm
  Correction: “your’re” not “your”
  
  Report this comment
- ofass
  Posted on February 19, 2013 at 5:48pm
  It is so insignificant that it has the biggest number of Nobel prize winners in the world comparing to the population…..and the number 2 start up companies in the world second only to the USA….I know, it is a Jewish Zionist conspiracy as they control the Nobel council as well….
  
  Report this comment
biohazard23
Posted on February 19, 2013 at 3:15pm
Looks like someone else in the regime who can’t handle Bibi.

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thibx
Posted on February 19, 2013 at 3:14pm
just another dumb demonut.

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true-lantern
Posted on February 19, 2013 at 3:14pm
This does NOT surprise me one bit!! It is just another snub of Israel– our true friend and THE ONLY democracy in the whole middle east.

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Gonzo
Posted on February 19, 2013 at 3:13pm
SOS just follows POTUS’s orders. What did you expect?

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- Your_Senile
  Posted on February 19, 2013 at 3:25pm
  Here is what you need to now
  
  John Kerry makes a good Ketchup
  
  it is so
  
  Your Senile
- Gonzo
  Posted on February 19, 2013 at 3:30pm
  Wango? Have to reinvent yourself again?
  
  Report this comment
- barber2
  Posted on February 19, 2013 at 3:37pm
  GONZO: That guy has more identities than Anonymous . Wonder if he was briefly THEMONK !?
  
  Report this comment
- DLV
  Posted on February 19, 2013 at 8:28pm
  Wango is just too much…
  
  Report this comment
progressiveslayer
Posted on February 19, 2013 at 3:13pm
Hey Johnny long face when you get to Saudi Arabia just stay there you POS.

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- Gonzo
  Posted on February 19, 2013 at 3:40pm
  John Kerry walks into a bar. The bar tender says “why the long face?”
  
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- Snowleopard {gallery of cat folks}
  Posted on February 19, 2013 at 3:46pm
  Absolutely, Kerry is already demonstrating the administrations loathing for Israel. Kerry will probably meet with the leaders of the Muslim Brotherhood to find out what they need in arms and ammo for the coming war against Israel.
  
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- huey6367
  Posted on February 19, 2013 at 4:24pm
  @Gonzo
  
  and Kerry says: What do you mean Wi-i-i-i-i-ilbur?
  
  Report this comment
freedom4mykids
Posted on February 19, 2013 at 3:10pm
Gee…didn’t see that coming now did we?

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- 1911a1
  Posted on February 19, 2013 at 3:18pm
  Naaa,,,, We saw it perfectly , its the Low information Voters who didnt see it… You know …those who are dependent on the Government cheese and the mainstream media !
  
  Report this comment

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