Responding to President Obama's Middle East speech, APN President and CEO Debra DeLee said:
"Today, President Obama signaled to the world that he is still serious about Israeli-Palestinian peace and that he is a true friend of Israel. We welcome his clear statement that the U.S. position is that a permanent status peace agreement will be based on the 1967 lines with mutually agreed on land swaps, and that the outcome must be secure and recognized borders, with a sovereign, contiguous Palestinian state and robust security arrangements for Israel. We also welcome his statement that such an agreement must find a way to resolve the issues of Jerusalem and refugees that is just and fair and that respects the rights and aspirations of both Israelis and Palestinians.
"What derives from these positions is clear. Palestinian leaders must come to terms with the fact that a future agreement will involve adjustments to the 1967 lines to accommodate some settlements - and educate their people to understand why this is so. They must also accept the fact that a future state will be demilitarized and that arrangements ensuring Israeli security will be paramount.
"At the same time, the Netanyahu government must accept that Israel's appetite for settlements must be balanced, inch for inch, against its readiness to give up territory that is inside what is now sovereign Israel. This applies not only in the West Bank but also in East Jerusalem, where Netanyahu's defiant determination to continue to expand settlements continues to send a message that he cares more about settlements than peace. Moreover, President Obama's clear statement that a Palestinian state must be contiguous and have recognized borders with Jordan underscores the impossibility of Israel maintaining permanent control over the Jordan Valley.
"We also welcome President Obama's pragmatic articulation of his approach to Palestinian efforts to establish a unity government. It is indeed incumbent on the Palestinians to provide a credible answer to those who suggest that Israel cannot negotiate peace with a unity government. As we have long argued, any Palestinian government should be judged by its actions and positions, not it composition.
"By articulating these positions, President Obama demonstrated that he is a real friend to Israel - one who recognizes that Israel's security and viability as a Jewish state and a democracy depends on peace. He has also made clear his understanding that Israel's future cannot be divorced from the fate of the Palestinians or from its relations with the rest of the region. We welcome President Obama's message of support for freedom, rights, security, and democracy in the Middle East - a Middle East that include both Israelis and Palestinians.
"We now call on President Obama to follow these words with concrete actions to make his vision of peace a reality. We also call on the Israeli and Palestinian leaderships to rise to the challenge in the President's words and demonstrate to each other and the world that they are ready to rise above pettiness, set aside grievances, and work to finally end the conflict. We know that most American Jews support President Obama in this effort. We call on leaders of AIPAC, who are hosting their major conference in Washington in a few days, to convey this support."
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Why not demilitarize Israel along with the putative Palestinian state? Which has been the greater threat to peace in the region?
Sadly I did not get the same message from obama's speech as you all did..What I got was his continued same old back Israels terrible murderious actions and demand Palestine recognize Israel as a state and not block them..It's as if he do's not see or hear any of the dreadful things Israel has been doing to palestine and even over looks their killing of an U.S. citizen on a peace flotilla last year.When are we going to stop sending billions to Israel and ignoring the pain they are inflicting on their neighbors..About the same time our own Gov. stops dropping bombs on other countries in illegal wars, I guess...5 wars we are supporting now, when will this madness end...I thought bush was bad but this adminestrtion I voted for is far worse....Peace
Very encouraging I agree, alot was noticeably missing though, no harsh words for Israel's 2008-09 Massacre or Gaza 'War' as it was Cynically-incorrectly called by Jewish owned Media in USA! which spilt the Blood of 1460 People almost every Man Woman Child WAS A Civilian.
USA's 8.9 Million extra payments in 2011 "to settle & house Ukrainian-Ethiopian Immigrants" who will be housed on Thousands of Acres of Stolen (or Annexed) Land, why pay this when it blatantly results in yet more Oppression-Ethnic Cleansing of Arab peoples, AIPAC- Banks-Arms companies now sadly control most of USA Policy & results in Hatred for uninformed-misled US folks-Taxpayers.
While the economy is a top priority in most people's minds here in US, and President Obama needs to make very visible efforts to reach out and speak to Americans about this topic, he is well aware of the importance of the Arab Spring and its implications for the Israel/Palestinian vision.
The President must now move forward to further craft, clarify, and articulate his critical Middle East policy that will affect many nations in that region and around the world, especially Israel-Palestinian relations, and, at the end of the day, also affect our US economy.
This is surely the time for strategies of diplomacy and compromise rather than old patterns of aggression; no longer an "either/or" confrontation, but rather a "both/and" dialogue! http://tl.gd/9241jl
I am delighted to see that the President has stepped up and spoke about the necessity for peace between the Palestinians and Israelis. For decades it has been clear that a powerful, honest broker like the U.S., is needed to insure that both sides of the issue receive fair treatment. The state of Israel, the best friend America has in the region, and the states that border it all need peace and prosperity to ensure the well-being of all their inhabitants.
The following in quotes is what I just read. It doesn't change. What Israel does in self defense gets criticized.
"May 19, 2011
Last Sunday, just days after Israelis joyously celebrated Israel Independence Day, many Palestinians, along with other Arabs in the countries neighboring Israel, commemorated Nakba Day. In Arabic, nakba means "catastrophe," so you would expect that this day marks the anniversary of a tragic war, natural disaster, or loss of a beloved leader. But no — the "catastrophe" that they gathered to grieve and protest is the founding of the state of Israel."
"This year's Nakba Day was marked by violence. More than a thousand angry protesters from Syria and Lebanon charged the Israeli borders, and violent demonstrations took place within Israel by Palestinian residents in East Jerusalem. Rioters threw stones at police and government vehicles, causing damage to property and injuries to people."
"When the Israel Defense Forces (IDF) stationed at the Syrian border did what the armed forces of any besieged country would do — use force to defend their nation against a large, violent mob — they drew the ire of many in the international media. Headlines focused on the injuries and deaths caused by the IDF, which was acting only to protect Israel's borders and citizens, not on the Arab incitement. And, true to form, a representative of the United Nations condemned Israel for what he called "the use of disproportionate, deadly force.""
"Palestinian leaders weighed in as well. Hezbollah leader Hassan Nasrallah said, "We must praise the courage and faith of all those who protested yesterday on the Lebanese and Syrian borders with occupied Palestine as well as within Palestine." Hamas Prime Minister Ismail Haniyeh told Muslim worshippers the morning of Nakba Day to pray for an end to Israel. Even Palestinian Authority (P.A.) president Mahmoud Abbas, the alleged "moderate" Palestinian leader, said, "[The demonstrators'] precious blood will not be wasted. It was spilt for the sake of our nation's freedom.""
"It is perplexing to Israelis — as it should be to the world — what Palestinians are and aren't willing to do in the name of "freedom." They're willing to praise a dangerous mob that storms Israel's borders, but unwilling to engage in productive peace talks. They're willing to brand Israel a "racist," "apartheid" state, but unwilling to purge their schools of educational materials that promote despicable anti-Semitic views to their children. P.A. leaders are willing to enter a unity agreement with Hamas, a known terror organization and their sworn enemy, but are unwilling to make any compromises that might lead to peace with democratic Israel."
"The fact that many in the world see all of this and yet persist in painting Israel as the aggressor is the real catastrophe. And this is why we continually ask you to "pray for the peace of Jerusalem" and the security of all Israel and her citizens. May God soften the hardened hearts of Arab rulers and all those who hate Israel, and bring us to the day when all will remember the birth of Israel not as a "catastrophe," but as a sign of God's faithfulness to His people and a triumph of the human spirit."
"With prayers for shalom, peace,"
Apart from the endorsement of modifying the 1967 borders through exchange of territory, the speech sounded pretty mild to me. I suppose he felt constrained by the overwhelming support Netanyahu will get from Congress. It's too bad that N's record cannot be discussed in good company.
I had no idea that AIPAC has so much influence on/in IPN. Demilitrizing Palestine state, "adjusting" 1967 boarder. These are all AIPAC and other anti-palestinain groups. What is it that IPN is praising.
Each side is traumatized by complicated and painful history and needs to atone for the violence committed out of fear and hurt and to forgive the other.
I am Isaac' son - looking over the shared heritage of Abraham at the son of Ishmael. We are brothers and sisters on a landscape of pain. Let us stop hurting the other, accept our histories and embrace each other and a future of reconciliation.
Are you people out of your minds? This president is the biggest traitor to Israel and the Jews since Carter, America is BROKE and he is giving away OUR money. He has a vision for a new world order and it does not have Israel's best interest at heart. Let him go campaign for Egypt, sounds like they are celebrating throughout the Jihadist regions anyway! You are cutting your own throats...not even G-d can help the likes of you!
Apparently no one reads or believes what the Bible says about the borders God promised to Abraham, Issac and Jacob. Apparently they have not read or believe what God meant when he said He would bless those who blessed Israel and curse those nations that curse Israel. If Pres. Obama is a Christian like he says he is someone should introduce the Bible too him and point out those Scriptures. Giving up the land of Abraham is not a tit for tat situation. The Palestians are not and have never been a nation and have no right to claim any portion of that land. Watch out America Obama is asking for the curse of God upon our nation.
THE FREE STATE OF ISRAEL IS HERE TO STAY,AND WILL LIVE FOREVER UNTIL THE END OF TIME
TO Anonymous:
Using live ammo in automatic weapons on UNARMED individuals who pose no real threat to the state of Israel in any conceivable way is never, ever justified. At the most, rubber bullets, pepper gas and water canons might have been used to deter the these "invaders", who had nothing but rocks. Considering the the Israeli government has been stealing Palestinian land, water and homes while assaulting and even murdering Palestinians week after week, month after month and year after year, this move was rather restrained.
To David:
Get a grip. I know reality is tough to deal with, but being delusional is not the answer. It's actually harder.
As to the speech, there was nothing new here in regard to Israeli-Palestinian relations or the territories. There is nothing, and I mean nothing, that any President can do as long as both houses of Congress are controlled by Israeli sock puppets. The only thing he can do is to have us abstain in the UN vote on Palestine come September. He isn't even in a position to use that as leverage. It could only happen as a surprise because the political environment would abort the whole process. Two things will get things moving. Cutting off the blank checks to Israel and cutting off all funds of any kind that subsidize the West Bank settlements, whether it's the military aid, police force funding or infrastructure and construction.
I agree that Israel has not been active in seeking the peace process. Everything that Obama said was correct and Israel needs to accept this now and stop all the dodging and work sincerely for peace.
Israel has been playing the Holocaust sympathy card way to its advantage, while in the meantime committing genocide of the Palestinians, and not very covertly either.
From what I've understood, Israel was NOT to extend its 1948 borders, but they have and they continue to do to this day by placing NEW (from countries such as Russia, Lithuania ++) settlers with no rights to land that belongs to Palestinians. U.S. giving them 2 to 3 billion $$ a year should only be given on the condition that they do not use it to destroy Palestinian life, land and well being.
I TOTALLY SUPPORT HIS VIEWS//I BELIEVE THAT HIS SUGGESTION WAS INDEED THE BEST WAY TO MAKE PEACE IN THE LAND OF PEACE.