Obama Endorses 1967 Border For Palestinian State

Is this U.S. support for the 1967 border some kind of new policy?

It is tragic how little people know about the issue 67 border.

Well yes and no. Other former U.S. presidents have basically supported the idea in the past or some variation, but haven't made it U.S. policy. From what I understand, Obama has set precedence here by publicly stating this is U.S. policy going forward.

Personally, I don't see how we can say we're extending an olive branch to the Arab world when we're constantly partial to Israel in almost every circumstance.

Well yes and no. Other former U.S. presidents have basically supported the idea in the past or some variation, but haven't made it U.S. policy. From what I understand, Obama has set precedence here by publicly stating this is U.S. policy going forward.

Personally, I don't see how we can say we're extending an olive branch to the Arab world when we're constantly partial to Israel in almost every circumstance.

Agreed. While I support the Israeli state and don't believe we should just cut them loose, to often it seems to be the tail wagging the dog of US middle east policy.

Well clearly all this is leading up to May 21st! :cheeky-sm

Agreed. While I support the Israeli state and don't believe we should just cut them loose, to often it seems to be the tail wagging the dog of US middle east policy.

That will never happen; Too much money and the Israel/Jewish lobby has an enormous amount of power and influence in American politics. As miuch as Obama has ruffled feathers, he'll only take it so far.

That will never happen; Too much money and the Israel/Jewish lobby has an enormous amount of power and influence in American politics. As miuch as Obama has ruffled feathers, he'll only take it so far.

Yup. I understand that. Hence the tail wagging the dog. The more I think about it the more I back Obama's statement.

Again, the creation, boundaries and existence of the Jewish state in the Middle East really is a tangled web of pre/post WWI European power struggles and emergent Arab nationalism (and factionalism) topped off with some good ole' Cold War surrogatism (yes, I just made that up).

Until the arabic countries formally accept & acknowledge Israel's right to exist, however, whether the '67 boundaries are used or not, there will not be peace. I think that, unlike 20-30 years ago, most of the arab world is ready to acknowledge the fact that Israel is there and is not going away.

[Deleted as double post]

That will never happen; Too much money and the Israel/Jewish lobby has an enormous amount of power and influence in American politics. As miuch as Obama has ruffled feathers, he'll only take it so far.


But since Obama’s made these statements doesn’t that give credibility to any war launched by any arab nation backing Palestine fighting for the lost 1967 borders? Its no big deal if Palestine wants to try and take back their lost land but if Pakistan, Iran, a hamas group, or whatever comes out of Egypt, Syria or Labia (democratic or not) if several of those powers decide to join in at some point to help reclaim some land for Palestine does the US just stay neutral and provide zero support (including humanitarian) to either side?

Whenever I tried to read into this subject I realize its wayyyy to complex and not so cut and dry, so Im like I don’t feel like spending a significant amount of time trying to understand it. So this may be a ignorant statement: I feel like Palestine has never been capable of governing themselves. I feel like they have given plenty of opportunities to create a government and become independent and they always blow it. The land they have held before though and want back is extremely valuable for several reasons though; namely religious, economically and military. So I feel like with all the uprisings and change going on in the middle east they are prime to get exploited by the likes of several countries that could give Israel a decent fight, particularly if someone decides to use nuclear wepons if things get that far. I feel like given the Presidents words he basically said if the arab world wants to try and take back its land; its fair game. As long as it looks like its in Palestine’s interest the US and UN aint gonna step in. We will just let it play out, hopefully nothing really bad happens.

Also Obama's most recent words are a little differnt then the ones he used when he was trying to get elected:

YouTube - ‪'Today I Speak From My Heart' Obama's Guarantee To Never Divide Jerusalem‬‏ (http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=7DMXzgBfQyc&feature=player_embedded)

Also some Jewish grandmas are likely pissed at Sarah Silverman right now:

YouTube - ‪The great schlep - JEWISH COUNCIL FOR EDUCATION AND RESEARCH‬‏ (http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=JCqofKxjDZY)

:doh:

But since Obama’s made these statements doesn’t that give credibility to any war launched by any arab nation backing Palestine fighting for the lost 1967 borders? Its no big deal if Palestine wants to try and take back their lost land but if Pakistan, Iran, a hamas group, or whatever comes out of Egypt, Syria or Labia (democratic or not) if several of those powers decide to join in at some point to help reclaim some land for Palestine does the US just stay neutral and provide zero support (including humanitarian) to either side?

Whenever I tried to read into this subject I realize its wayyyy to complex and not so cut and dry, so Im like I don’t feel like spending a significant amount of time trying to understand it. So this may be a ignorant statement: I feel like Palestine has never been capable of governing themselves. I feel like they have given plenty of opportunities to create a government and become independent and they always blow it. The land they have held before though and want back is extremely valuable for several reasons though; namely religious, economically and military. So I feel like with all the uprisings and change going on in the middle east they are prime to get exploited by the likes of several countries that could give Israel a decent fight, particularly if someone decides to use nuclear wepons if things get that far. I feel like given the Presidents words he basically said if the arab world wants to try and take back its land; its fair game. As long as it looks like its in Palestine’s interest the US and UN aint gonna step in. We will just let it play out, hopefully nothing really bad happens.

There are definitely a lot of moving pieces here, but in the context of the speech he gave yesterday Obama was simply trying to reframe and restart peace negotiations between the Israel and Palestine. He was in no way distancing himself from Israel or endorsing military aggression by the Palestines or any other Arab nation, for that matter. Israel is the number one recipient of foreign aid from the United States and that's not changing anytime in our lifetimes. Egypt, the other nation involved in the 1967 war, which is Arab, is the number two recipient of U.S. foreign aid. Between the two of them they receive a one third of all foreign aid and yesterday the Obama committed another $2 billion to Egypt. Also consider that both countries are our two biggest allies in the region, so no I don't see this speech being misconstrued by any Arab nation, or any other group, to get too full of themselves.

Also keep in mind that Libya, Egypt, and Syria are significantly weaker politically because of the Arab spring and the push to topple the current regimes. These countries have little interest in running to the defense of the Palestinians, especially now that they have so much turmoil going within their own borders and the leadership remains a big question mark. This is why the president is speaking out now because there is a small window of opportunity to get the ball rolling on peace talks again.

By referencing the 1967 war, if that's what you want to call it, President Obama is saying why don't you two consider a land exchange, that was previously agreed upon, as a starting point for negotiations.