By David Singer ——Bio and Archives--February 1, 2017
American Politics, News | CFP Comments | Reader Friendly | Subscribe | Email Us
"The United States believes that negotiations should result in two states, with permanent Palestinian borders with Israel, Jordan, and Egypt, and permanent Israeli borders with Palestine. We believe 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. The Palestinian people must have the right to govern themselves, and reach their full potential, in a sovereign and contiguous state.‚"
"expects to hear a reaffirmation from President Obama of American commitments made to Israel in 2004 which were overwhelmingly supported by both Houses of Congress.‚"Those 2004 commitments to Israel had been made by President Bush in a letter to Israel's then Prime Minister Ariel Sharon dated 14 April 2004 ("the Bush Commitments‚"). Obama never obliged Netanyahu by reaffirming those Bush Commitments. Neither did Netanyahu press Obama to do so - though he had opportunities during
"In light of new realities on the ground, including already existing major Israeli population centers, it is unrealistic to expect that the outcome of final status negotiations will be a full and complete return to the armistice lines of 1949, and all previous efforts to negotiate a two-state solution have reached the same conclusion. It is realistic to expect that any final status agreement will only be achieved on the basis of mutually agreed changes that reflect these realities.‚"Bush's "mutually agreed changes‚" differed markedly from Obama's "mutually agreed swaps‚"-- which required Israel to swap some of its sovereign territory to gain sovereignty over any territory in the West Bank. Under the Bush Commitments no such land swaps were required. Obama had repudiated his predecessor's commitments to Israel with this sneaky turn of phrase - adding insult to injury by demeaning Congress for its enthusiastic and overwhelming endorsement of the Bush Commitments. In his AIPAC address--Netanyahu made mention of Israel's:
"terrific Ambassador to the United States, a man who knows a few things about the U.S.-Israel alliance, Michael Oren‚"
Support Canada Free Press
"The time has come to revive Bush's letter to Sharon and to act in accordance with it.‚"As Netanyahu readies for his ground-breaking meeting with Trump he needs to heed Oren's call and get a definitive answer this time from both Trump and the Congress. America's reputation and integrity as a trustworthy ally that honours its commitments is at stake. Lightning can indeed strike twice in the White House and on Capitol Hill.
View Comments
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