US president Barack Obama declared today that the 1967 borders should serve as the basis for negations between Israel and the Palestinians, with territory swaps between the sides. He said that a future Palestinian state should be demilitarized.
In a speech at the US State Department outlining US policy in the light of the changes sweeping the Middle East and North Africa, Obama put his emphasis on ways in which the US would support the process of democratization in the region. He declared unequivocal support for the movements to overthrow dictatorships, and outlined a series of measures to promote economic development. Obama mentioned the tightening of sanctions against Syria's President Assad, and said, "The Syrian people have shown their courage in demanding a transition to democracy. President Assad now has a choice: he can lead that transition, or get out of the way.
On the Israeli-Palestinian conflict, Obama said neither the US nor anyone else could impose a solution, but that the basis for negotiations was clear. "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 potential, in a sovereign and contiguous state," the president said.
Obama said that Israel had to be able to defend itself by itself. "Provisions must also be robust enough to prevent a resurgence of terrorism; to stop the infiltration of weapons; and to provide effective border security. The full and phased withdrawal of Israeli military forces should be co-ordinated with the assumption of Palestinian security responsibility in a sovereign, non-militarized state," he said.
Obama admitted that this was only a beginning, and that the two most sensitive issues, Jerusalem and the fate of the Palestinian refugees, would not go away, but added that progress now on borders and security would be a platform for resolving those questions as well.
Barack called on the Palestinians to stop their attempts to delegitimize Israel. "The Palestinian will never reach their independence by denying the right of Israel to exist," he said. On the move for a declaration of recognition on a Palestinian state by the UN General Assembly in September, Obama said, "Symbolic actions to isolate Israel at the United Nations in September won't create an independent state."
Obama announced a $2 billion aid package to Egypt, in the form of $1 billion forgiveness of debts and $1 billion in loan guarantees. He said the World Bank and other international institutions had been asked to formulate plans for further measures to promote growth and trade, particularly in Egypt and Tunisia. "The greatest untapped resource in the Middle East and North Africa is the talent of its people," Obama declared.
Published by Globes [online], Israel business news - www.globes-online.com - on May 19, 2011
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