By David Singer ——Bio and Archives--February 16, 2017
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"significant implications, both because it was recognizing settlement blocs referred to inthe letter as major population centers, but also because it said that no agreement caninvolve going back to the 1949 Armistice lines or the equivalent of June 4, 1967."Similar calls had also been made by:
"For example, it still needs to be clarified whether the Obama administration feels bound by the April 14, 2004, Bush letter to Sharon on defensible borders and settlement blocs, which was subsequently ratified by large bipartisan majorities in both the US Senate (95-3) and the House of Representatives (407-9) on June 23-24, 2004. Disturbingly, on June 1, 2009, the State Department spokesman, Robert Wood, refused to answer repeated questions about whether the Obama administration viewed itself as legally bound by the Bush letter. It would be better to obtain earlier clarification of that point, rather than having both countries expend their energies over an issue that may not be the real underlying source of their dispute."Obama's clarification never came. Even Netanyahu--just before boarding a plane to see Obama in the White House in May 2011- had said he expected:
"to hear a reaffirmation from President Obama of American commitments made to Israel in 2004 which were overwhelmingly supported by both Houses of Congress."Netanyahu never received that affirmation then--nor did he from Trump now. Their reasons however are very different. Obama proceeded to trash those commitments made with one of America's closest allies with disastrous consequences for America's foreign policy, its reputation and integrity.
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"the United States remains committed to my vision and to its implementation as described in the roadmap. The United States will do its utmost to prevent any attempt by anyone to impose any other plan"Trump doesn't like long negotiations without any deal--and Trump wants to cut a deal. Trump has accordingly ditched the Bush two-state solution--endorsed by Russia, the European Union and the United Nations. It now joins the diplomatic graveyard housing other two-state solutions proposed by
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David Singer is an Australian Lawyer, a Foundation Member of the International Analyst Network and Convenor of Jordan is Palestine International—an organization calling for sovereignty of the West Bank and Gaza to be allocated between Israel and Jordan as the two successor States to the Mandate for Palestine. Previous articles written by him can be found at: jordanispalestine.blogspot.com