Jerusalem – Israel’s prime minister on Thursday gave a cool reception to President Barack Obama’s Mideast policy speech, warning a withdrawal from the West Bank wold leave Israel vulnerable to attack and setting up what could be a tense meeting at the White House.
Join our WhatsApp groupSubscribe to our Daily Roundup Email
In his speech, Obama endorsed the Palestinian position on the borders of their future state, saying it should be based on Israel’s lines before the 1967 Mideast war. Israel captured the West Bank, east Jerusalem and Gaza Strip in the fighting, and the Palestinians claim those areas for their state.
The U.S., the international community and even past Israeli governments have endorsed a settlement based on the 1967 lines, but Obama was far more explicit than in the past. His position appeared to put him at odds with Israeli Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu, who has not accepted the concept.
Reacting to Obama’s speech, Benjamin Netanyahu rejected a full withdrawal from the West Bank, saying the 1967 lines were “indefensible” and would leave major Jewish settlements outside Israel. Netanyahu rejects any pullout from east Jerusalem.
Netanyahu heads to the White House on Friday and said he would seek clarifications.
Behind the rhetoric, though, was the possibility of finding common ground. Obama said he would support agreed-upon territorial swaps between the Israel and the Palestinians, leaving the door open for Israel to retain major West Bank settlements, where the vast majority of its nearly 300,000 Jewish settlers live.
Netanyahu said he would urge Obama to endorse a 2004 American commitment, made by then President George W. Bush, to Israel. In a letter at the time, Bush said a full withdrawal to the 1967 lines was “unrealistic” and a future peace agreement would have to recognize “new realities on the ground.”
Israelis have interpreted Bush’s commitment as U.S. support for retaining the major settlement blocs. Earlier this week, Netanyahu said Israel would have to retain the blocs as part of any future peace agreement.
But Netanyahu also wants to keep other parts of the West Bank, including a strategic section of land along the Jordanian border that he believes is vital to Israel’s security. The Palestinians oppose any Israeli presence in their future state.
Netanyahu said he would reiterate his security demands at Friday’s meeting.
Netanyahu said he plans to raise other demands: Palestinian recognition of Israel as the Jewish homeland, guarantees that Palestinian refugees be resettled outside of Israel and condemnation of an emerging Palestinian government that is to include the anti-Israel Hamas militant group.
With peacemaking stalled for months, the Palestinians have said they will ask the United Nations to recognize their independence in September, with or without a peace deal.
In his speech, Obama rejected the U.N. push. “Symbolic actions to isolate Israel at the United Nations in September won’t create an independent state,” Obama said.
It was not immediately clear whether Obama’s statement on the 1967 borders as the basis for negotiations — something the Palestinians have long sought — would be sufficient to persuade the Palestinians to drop their quest for U.N. recognition.
Palestinian President Mahmoud Abbas planned to convene a meeting with senior officials as soon as possible to decide on the next steps, said Palestinian negotiator Saeb Erekat.
Abbas is determined “to give President Obama’s effort and that of the international community the chance they deserve,” Erekat said.
Former U.S. congressman Robert Wechsler, president of the Abraham Center for Middle East Peace in Washington, said the speech had created a “moment of truth” for the Israeli and Palestinian leaders.
“No longer in earnest can President Abbas seek a United Nations resolution and say he’s serious about the creation of a Palestinian state. And likewise, Prime Minister Netanyahu must determine whether he is willing to negotiate based on the 1967 lines with agreed-upon territorial swaps,” he said.
Tweet from Sean Hannity now on Twitter:
“Radicals now think they have the support of an American President. That’s the worst scenario for Israel, our greatest ally in the Mideast.”
(Twitter.com/Sean Hannity)
Never has our president been so irresponsible. All the comments on earlier posts on VIN that attempted to convince me that Obama is a “friend” of Israel, at least as much as Bush, have been nullified by this latest attack by Obama. Israel should never be pressured into the indefensible borders of 1967. Anybody with brains knows this. Why? Because the Arab countries and regimes we are dealing with are totally consumed with hate for Israel that “peace” is not even a fantasy. Give Hamas Y”Sh the credit for telling the truth – that peace is only a step towards annihilation of Israel. Mr. President: Your statement has made sure that I will not only not vote for you, but I will also give up time from my work to actively campaign against you. In fact, with the exception of Dov Hikind, I will vigorously campaign against any democratic candidate, or anyone else who supports you. This position is evil, malicious, and vicious. It isn’t even good politics, besides being openly anti-Israel, and pro-terror. Obama, count your days. In 2012, you’re gone, G-d willing.
I guess the President is not worry about getting funding from the jewish groups for his campain for re election.
Whether or not the PA will say they will agree to this or that is beside the point. When the rubber meets the road and they have to make good on the terms (i.e. recognize Israel, condemn Hamas, and resettlement of refugees) they will squirm in their seats and find some excuse to call it off… of course blaming Israel, the US, and anyone else they see fit.
All they do is talk.
Obama is giving the Arabs what they want on a silver platter!
If the Arabs only want the so called West Bank (Yehuda v’Shomron ) & Jerusalem, why did they begin the 1967 War when they had all the above !!!!
NEVER AGAIN!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!! YERUSHLAIM MUST NOT BE DIVIDED!!!!!!!
I think its pretty realistic to know that Mr. Obama has a LOT of work to do. The outcry agaisnt his congratulatory speech to endorse the 1967 borders is not going to fall on deaf ears. To think that we can allow ourselves to remain in a precarious position will not bode well for American-Israeli relations and clearly there is no broken world that will allow for a strong Palestinian state at the expense of a Major American Ally in the Middle East. So wait and see. But if Mr. Obama says what is said today, he might get the parties to the table faster. But thats not my expectation that Israel has no say in its future. It assuredly does and on this one we will not be divided for long. Negotiations will ensue and Israel will not be left in a precarious position with the number of Israel supporters in America.
Netanyahu should not go to the meeting. Show the president what he thinks of him.
Guess who just lost the Jewish vote….
All of the prophets and the Talmud predicted this situation we are now facing. They all tell us there is nothing to worry about. I will watch with anticipation on how G-d will save us. Isaiah the prophet said, “Make your plans (the nations of the world against the Jews) it will not stand because G-d is with us!”
How about this idea: We go back to the 1967 borders, and they in turn give us back the entire temple mount and disassemble the dome of the rock and allow the Building of a Temple. I say that works for everyone. They can have their borders, we can have our Holy site.
I
The big problem is terror. Here is my solution. Go back to the 1967 borders on a certain date. After that, for every Jew that is R”L killed in an attack from the Arabs, one acre of land will be taken back. That will be built into the agreement. And the particular parcels will also be agreed on in advance. Since it will be clear that the Arabs will never agree to this, the world will see how serious they are about peace…