Kerry looks to legacy with hard-hitting speech

US Secretary of State John Kerry on Wednesday outlined the Obama administration's detailed vision for future of the Israeli-Palestinian peace process. He declared that the two-state solution is in serious jeopardy almost a quarter of a century after the Oslo process began, yet forcefully argued that it offers the only path to peace.

The potentially landmark speech comes as the relationship between the Obama administration and Israeli Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu's government is - not for the first time - under great stress, especially following Washington's decision to abstain last Friday from a United Nations resolution condemning Israeli settlements in the West Bank and East Jerusalem.

Mr Kerry defended that decision, asserting that the Obama team has done more for Israel than any other administration, yet acted as it did last week to try to preserve the viability of the two-state solution.