Netanyahu Slams Obama’s Speech: Israel Opposes Withdrawal to 1967 Borders
Israel should not be asked to withdraw to the borders that existed before the 1967 Six Day War, Israel's prime minister said Thursday, after U.S. President Barack Obama's Middle East policy speech.
In a statement issued after the speech, Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu's office called on Washington to confirm it would adhere to "assurances" given to Israel by former president George W. Bush in 2004.
"Among other things, those commitments relate to Israel not having to withdraw to the 1967 lines, which are both indefensible and which would leave major Israeli population centers in Judea and Samaria (the West Bank) beyond those lines," the statement said.
Obama's address, which came shortly before Netanyahu is to fly to Washington for talks at the White House, included a call for a negotiated solution to the Israeli-Palestinian conflict to be based on the 1967 borders.
"The borders of Israel and Palestine should be based on the 1967 lines with mutually agreed swaps, so that secure and recognized borders are established for both states," Obama said.
"The full and phased withdrawal of Israeli military forces should be coordinated with the assumption of Palestinian security responsibility in a sovereign, non-militarized state."
But Netanyahu, who will meet with Obama on Friday and address a joint session of Congress next week, rejected the U.S. leader's call, and urged Washington to endorse a 2004 letter authored by Bush.
The letter acknowledged "new realities on the ground," and said a "full and complete return" to the 1967 borders would be "unrealistic."
"Prime Minister Netanyahu expects to hear a reaffirmation from President Obama of U.S. commitments made to Israel in 2004, which were overwhelmingly supported by both Houses of Congress," Netanyahu's statement said.
Source: Agence France Presse
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