World | cell phones Israel Tapped John Kerry's Phone Somewhere, Angela Merkel is smiling By Polly Davis Doig Posted Aug 3, 2014 12:37 PM CDT Copied John Kerry speaks on his phone while his plane refuels at Ramstein Air Base in Germany, Friday, Aug. 1, 2014. (AP Photo/Lucas Jackson, Pool) It seems that people who live in glass houses shouldn't spy on cell phones: During the frenetic and doomed Mideast peace talks last year, John Kerry was furiously working the phones to both Israel and the Palestinians—and as der Spiegel reports in an exclusive that cites "reliable sources," he had an audience. It seems that at the height, Kerry made some calls using unencrypted satellite phones, and Israeli intelligence—along with "at least one other intelligence service"— listened in and used the intel to their advantage. The talks fell apart in April, but Israelis may not have liked what they heard: As Spiegel notes, relations between Benjamin Netanyahu and Kerry appear to have soured, and Kerry is taking no small amount of criticism from Israel in the current crisis. Neither the State Department nor Jerusalem would comment. But then again, it's not that unusual, right, Mr. Secretary? Read These Next Who added bill's proposed tax on clean energy? No one knows. Actor Michael Madsen is dead at 67. Trump gives merch to hesitating Republicans. Pardoned Capitol rioter receives life sentence. Report an error