Thread: Netanyahu to Obama: No return to 1967 lines

Washington (CNN) -- Israeli Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu on Friday firmly rejected President Barack Obama's call for an approximate return to the borders that existed before the 1967 Middle East war, telling the U.S. leader that such a move is impossible in light of current security concerns and demographic realities.


The two leaders pledged to work together, however, in the pursuit of a comprehensive Israeli-Palestinian peace agreement.



"Israel wants peace. I want peace," Netanyahu said while meeting with Obama at the White House. But "a peace based on illusions will crash eventually on the rocks of Middle Eastern reality," he said.


"Obviously there are some differences between us in the precise formulations and language, and that's going to happen between friends," Obama said.


"But what we are in complete accord about is that a true peace can only occur if the ultimate resolution allows Israel to defend itself against threats, and that Israel's security will remain paramount in U.S. evaluations of any prospective peace deal."


Both men stressed that the presence of the militant group Hamas in a Palestinian government would be extremely problematic for future peace talks. The United States and Israel consider Hamas a terrorist group.



Palestinian leader Mahmoud Abbas "has to decide if he negotiates or keeps his pact with Hamas, or makes peace with Israel," Netanyahu said. "I hope he makes the choice -- the right choice -- in choosing peace with Israel."
But Abbas' spokesman said it was Netanyahu who was derailing the peace process.


"These statements are an official declaration that he is not ready for true peace based on justice and international resolutions," presidential spokesman Nabil Abu Rudeineh told the WAFA news agency.


Abu Rudeineh said the Palestinian government independent and has "nothing to do with Fatah or Hamas. What Netanyahu is saying are excuses to avoid sitting at the negotiating table," he said.


Obama's call Thursday for an approximate return to the 1967 borders, which made official a long-held but rarely stated U.S. position, has increased tension between the two longstanding allies at a moment of turbulent change in the Arab world.


Israel seized the West Bank, Gaza, Golan Heights and Sinai Peninsula during the 1967 war. The Sinai has since been returned to Egypt. Israel annexed the Golan Heights in 1981, a move not recognized by the international community and condemned by Syria, which still claims the land.


Hamas now controls Gaza, while the more moderate Palestinian group Fatah administers the West Bank, site of a growing number of Israeli settlements. Ultimately, the Palestinians are aiming to unite Gaza and the West Bank under the authority of a new state.



The Israeli government has repeatedly said, among other things, that peace talks with the Palestinians cannot seriously proceed without firmer security guarantees and a clear recognition of the Jewish state's right to exist.

Obama said Thursday that the borders of Israel and a Palestinian state "should be based on the 1967 lines with mutually agreed swaps, so that secure and recognized borders are established for both states."


His position largely agreed with the Palestinian negotiating stance on border issues in the staggering peace process, now stalled by disputes over Israeli settlements in the West Bank and the role of Hamas in the Palestinian leadership.



At the same time, Obama reiterated unwavering U.S. support for Israel's security Thursday, and he endorsed certain negotiating positions of Netanyahu's government, including an incremental handover of security responsibilities by Israel when conditions on the ground allow it.
He also said a future Palestinian state would have to remain "nonmilitarized."


Obama sought to undercut momentum for a declaration of Palestinian statehood at the United Nations in September, warning that "symbolic actions to isolate Israel (at the U.N.) won't create an independent state."


The president said he recognizes that two "wrenching and emotional issues" remain unresolved: the future status of Jerusalem, which is claimed by both sides, and the fate of Palestinian refugees who claim Israel as their homeland.
Netanyahu, considered hawkish on security matters, reacted coolly to the president's speech. He has argued that the 1967 borders are now "indefensible" for Israel, and noted that major population centers are located beyond those lines.



Hamas also rejected the terms outlined in the speech, calling them "empty of concrete significance."



Israel, meanwhile, announced the approval Thursday of new projects to build 1,500 housing units in Har Homa and Pisgat Zeev, which are outside the 1967 borders. The projects had previously received initial approval, said Roye Lackmanovich, an Interior Ministry spokesman.


Israeli officials said before Friday's meeting that Netanyahu intended to use the occasion not only to stress his opposition to a restoration of the 1967 lines, but also to seek specifics on the type of security guarantees envisioned by the president, including the assertion that a Palestinian state would remain nonmilitarized.


Netanyahu also wanted Obama to clarify his stance on both Hamas and the so-called "right of return" for Palestinian families who left Israel after the state's founding in 1948. Israel has repeatedly warned that it cannot allow those families to return without sacrificing its identity as a Jewish state.



Netanyahu made clear after Friday's meeting that the families of the 1948 refugees cannot settle within Israel's borders.


While Netanyahu and other conservative members of the Israeli government have been critical of Obama in the wake of Thursday's speech, the president also has defenders within the Knesset, Israel's parliament.
Tzipi Livni, an opposition leader and former foreign minister, applauded Obama's call for a two-state solution.


"An American president that supports a two-state solution represents the Israeli interest and is not anti-Israeli," Livni said. "President Obama's call to start negotiations represents Israel's interests."


Also, the group known as the Middle East Quartet -- which includes the United Nations, Russia, the European Union and the United States -- issued a statement Friday offering its "strong support" for Obama's "vision of Israeli-Palestinian peace."


The White House has been heavily focused on Middle East issues this week. Obama met with Jordan's King Abdullah II on Tuesday and will address the American Israel Public Affairs Committee, an influential pro-Israel lobbying group, on Sunday.


Netanyahu to Obama: No return to 1967 lines - CNN.com

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Originally Posted by FarangRed

"Obviously there are some differences between us in the precise formulations and language, and that's going to happen between friends," Obama said.

Obama the diplomat. Netanyahu came very close to telling Obama that he was a fucking idiot and had no idea what was going on in the ME and that Israel can not possibly negotiate with Hamas who have the stated goal of the complete destruction of the state of Israel..."It's just not going to happen" he said....but they did do the customary phot-op handshake..

I understand that Native Americans have now proposed to Obama that he returns to the pre-1492 borders.

Patrick

Israel is a terrorist state,

Obama is right, and the reply by Israel is very rude, don't think that PM will last long

Originally Posted by Butterfly

Israel is a terrorist state,

Obama is right, and the reply by Israel is very rude, don't think that PM will last long

Sara Palin was interviewed by FOX--saw it early this morning. She made some excellent foreign policy statments supporting the US's continued and unquestioned support of Israel. One of the key components of her support is to be found in the Bible...."just read the Bible" she said. There was no update on her policies regarding Russia, China, India etc....probably just as well... she seemed to be struggling a bit trying to remember where Israel was exactly...but she knew that it was around the Arab part of the world somewhere...because Israel was surrounded by enemies. One bright lady that Sara...

What exactly can the US do but posture? All Israel has to do is nuke the Eastern province of Saudi and America's fucked, and everyone knows it.

Originally Posted by DrAndy

The US could stop supporting Israel, in many ways

cut off funding - most of the settlements have been built with US money
stop vetoing UN resolutions against Israel
stop sending arms, or money for the same
Impose sanctions due to Israeli war crimes

They could... but they're too frightened of the consequences.

Originally Posted by Butterfly

Israel is a terrorist state,

Obama is right, and the reply by Israel is very rude, don't think that PM will last long

Wrong ! Obama spoke against Israel, so this will be the end for him.
Its the PM of Israel who runs the show in the U.S.

Originally Posted by Patrick

I understand that Native Americans have now proposed to Obama that he returns to the pre-1492 borders.

Patrick

Should be plenty of room for 2 million native Americans in Israel. Since the U.S. is paying for the settlements.

Reparation from America for Americans !

the best solution would be to give the Palestine lands back to the 1967 borders

the settlers can stay in Palestine (most of them just want to be there, they have no allegiance to Israel, per se) and can have 1 year renewable visas, or right of settlement

Jews are furious! []

International Jewry to Obama: "I thought you understood the arrangement - we put you in power and in return you are to serve Jewish interests, period! You work for us, boy! Understand? This has been the arrangement for decades. Now, go back to the podium and issue an apology and retract your statement. Is that clear???"

Originally Posted by DrAndy

the best solution would be to give the Palestine lands back to the 1967 borders

the settlers can stay in Palestine (most of them just want to be there, they have no allegiance to Israel, per se) and can have 1 year renewable visas, or right of settlement

Balderdash.

1967 borders are indefensible...

Obama is a raging hippocrate and an asshole. He is suggesting that once again. Israel make a major concession with only the "promise" of good faith negotiations if they do. This has been asked of Israel in the past. They gave up Gaza with nothing in return. 7000 Rockets fired later how do you think Israel feels about that deal?

the Palestinian Authority just made an alliance with Hamas. A terrorist organization who has as part of it's charter the destruction of Israel. Who the fuck does Obama think he is, suggesting that Israel Make concessions and negotiate with a terrorist organization bent on their destruction.

Just another example of Obama's Horrible foreign Policy. His suggestion has put Israel in a untenable situation, and made a major conflict between a nuclear powered Israel and her arab Neighbors far more likely now, that it was before Obama opened his mouth.

Originally Posted by ItsRobsLife

Originally Posted by FarangRed

The United States and Israel consider Hamas a terrorist group.

And a very effective way of keeping them out of any political process or diplomatic negotiations it is too.

Well, if it walks and quacks like a duck, Rob, it ain't a chicken, eh?

Originally Posted by Boon Mee

Originally Posted by DrAndy

the best solution would be to give the Palestine lands back to the 1967 borders

the settlers can stay in Palestine (most of them just want to be there, they have no allegiance to Israel, per se) and can have 1 year renewable visas, or right of settlement

Balderdash.

1967 borders are indefensible...

if there was peace, then no defence of those borders would be necessary

they were happy enough to accept those borders when they stole the land originally, now they are just being greedy

Israel was attacked by the Arab world and got their arse handed to them. Why should they give anything back. Note that note one other country in the ME has done a thing for the Palestinians. Most of them live in Saudi Arabia or Jordon, neither country wants them, wonder why?

Originally Posted by FarangRed

This has been asked of Israel in the past. They gave up Gaza with nothing in return.

nobody asked Israel to give up Gaza, they just couldn't handle it

they gave back the Sinai and got peace on that border

[QUOTE="FarangRed"]Note that note one other country in the ME has done a thing for the Palestinians. Most of them live in Saudi Arabia or Jordon, neither country wants them, wonder why?[/QUOTE

so what can they do, start another war?

as for the refugees, they don't want to be there either, they want to return to their homelands

Originally Posted by Patrick

I understand that Native Americans have now proposed to Obama that he returns to the pre-1492 borders.

Patrick

Yeah. I saw Leno too.

Originally Posted by FarangRed

Just another example of Obama's Horrible foreign Policy

Obama has a foreign policy? Not sure he even has an identifiable domestic policy...
Sorry, that must be a "racist" thing to say..oh well..

This is the same position taken by both the Clinton and Bush administrations in the past and in fact it is favored by most Israelis. Only the ultra-conservative Likud Party finds it unacceptable. Israel is the largest recepient of US foreign military aid. The idea that somehow these borders are indefensible is ludicrous.

Originally Posted by Humbert

The idea that somehow these borders are indefensible is ludicrous.

Howzatt? What do you think the Golan Heights represent, eh?