TORONTO, Following yesterday’s speech by President Barack Obama wherein he called for a return to the pre-1967 borders, B’nai Brith Canada warns that the President has chosen to map out a dangerous route at the very time that the safety and security of the state of Israel are under constant threat.
Frank Dimant, CEO of B’nai Brith Canada commented, “The late Abba Eban, one of Israel’s greatest statesmen representing the peace camp, referred to the 1967 borders as the ‘Auschwitz borders” For President Obama to call upon Israel to return to borders which were created by the massive invasion of Arab states in 1948 is unrealistic and contrary to the security needs of Israel. The Jewish homeland, as promised at the San Remo conference and the Balfour Declaration, was carved up to create Transjordan, now known as Jordan, where two-thirds of its population is Palestinian. Obama’s call jeopardizes Israel’s very existence by further unrealistic divisions of the small state of Israel as well as Judea and Samaria. It is of grave concern to all those that remember all too well the numerous massacres of Jews prior to 1948 and the violence and terrorism of the intifadas that followed. By international law and by all moral standards, the illegal aggression against the territorial viability of Israel by Palestinians and by terrorist entities should not be rewarded.
Frank Dimant went on to state, “Prime Minister Netanyahu rightly rejected the suggestion by President Obama as totally indefensible and contrary to prior American commitments. We trust that the American people and leadership will voice a resounding “no” to any forced return to suicidal borders. As the issue becomes a world wide cause célèbre, we look to the Canadian government to maintain its strong opposition to all terrorist forces in the Middle East and help ensure the safety and security of the small but vibrant Jewish state of Israel.
