Posted on 03/23/2015 6:15:24 PM PDT by 2ndDivisionVet
White House chief of staff Denis McDonough today called for an end to Israel’s “occupation” of the Palestinians and vowed that the Obama administration won’t “pretend” that Israeli Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu didn’t make his campaign remarks about no two-state solution.
McDonough thanked the “pro-Israel, pro-peace” — as J Street bills itself — and pro-Palestinian lobbying group for the “important work you do around the country,” calling it “an organization that, in the best tradition of the American Jewish community, shares a set of values about the type of country that we are – a democracy where all of our people can access opportunity.”
“President Obama asked me to convey his deep appreciation to all of you for your partnership and your work on behalf of the U.S.-Israel relationship, especially building support for our efforts to advance a two-state solution,” he said.
McDonough spent much of his speech, though, on issues other than the Mideast: solar energy, the auto industry, job growth, energy independence, and the fifth anniversary of Obamacare. He also spent significant time taking shots at the new Republican budget.
“Of course, our relationship with Israel isn’t defined by numbers in a budget. Ours is a deep and abiding partnership between two vibrant democracies. We saw that democracy in action when Israelis of all backgrounds—Jewish and Arab, religious and secular–cast their ballots last week. At the heart of any democracy is the right of all citizens to participate equally,” he said. J Street lobbied heavily against Netanyahu and the Likud party.
McDonough said in Thursday’s congratulatory call from Obama to Netanyahu the president “committed to continuing consultations on a range of regional issues, including resolving the Israeli-Palestinian conflict.”
“No matter who leads Israel, America’s commitment to Israel’s security will never waver,” he said, noting money allocated by Congress and approved by the administration to spend on the Iron Dome missile defense system and next year’s delivery of the F-35 Joint Strike Fighter.
“We continue to believe that the best way to safeguard Israel’s long-term security is to bring about a comprehensive peace between Israelis and Palestinians—two states for two peoples, living side-by-side in security and peace,” he said, adding that’s why Netanyahu’s “comments on the eve of the election—in which he first intimated and then made very clear in response to a follow up question that a Palestinian state will not be established while he is prime minister—were so troubling.”
“After the election, the prime minister said that he had not changed his position, but for many in Israel and in the international community, such contradictory comments call into question his commitment to a two-state solution, as did his suggestion that the construction of settlements has a strategic purpose of dividing Palestinian communities and his claim that conditions in the larger Middle East must be more stable before a Palestinian state can be established. We cannot simply pretend that those comments were never made, or that they don’t raise questions about the prime minister’s commitment to achieving peace through direct negotiations.”
Netanyahu clarified his comments to note that the conditions for a two-state solution currently do not exist as Fatah remains allied with Hamas and they refuse to recognize Israel or stop incitement.
“In recent days, some have suggested our reaction to this issue is a matter of personal pique,” McDonough told the crowd. “Nothing could be further from the truth. America’s commitment to a two-state solution is fundamental to U.S. foreign policy. It’s been the goal of both Republican and Democratic presidents, and it remains our goal today. Because it is the only way to secure Israel’s future as a Jewish and democratic state.”
That’s why, he said, Obama now wants to “re-evaluate our approach to the peace process and how we pursue the cause of peace – because, like all of you, we care deeply about Israel and its future.”
“In the end, we know what a peace agreement should look like. The borders of Israel and an independent Palestine should be based on the 1967 lines with mutually agreed swaps. Each state needs secure and recognized borders, and there must be robust provisions that safeguard Israel’s security. An occupation that has lasted for almost 50 years must end, and the Palestinian people must have the right to live in and govern themselves in their own sovereign state.”
McDonough said the “truth” is “Israel cannot maintain military control of another people indefinitely.”
He insisted that Israel accepting a two-state solution “would deal a knock-out blow to calls for boycotts, divestment, and sanctions” and “would undercut efforts to isolate Israel in the international community and roll back de-legitimization efforts.”
The White House chief of staff also delivered the standard administration line on Iran negotiations, saying they won’t accept a bad deal but stressing that they’re pursing a deal that’s “both realistic and achievable.”
“Congress should not seek to undermine negotiations before a deal is reached,” McDonough said. “…I’m sure you heard about the letter some Republican senators addressed directly to Iran’s leaders. It was a blatant political move—as the president said, that is not how America does its business.”
He called the letter “critically flawed in its legal reasoning” as the administration is “pursuing a political arrangement with Iran that does not require congressional approval.”
“Some senators have also proposed legislation that would torpedo diplomacy by suggesting Congress must vote on any deal and by stripping the President of his existing authorities to waive sanctions. Let’s be very clear about what this would do. It would embolden hard-liners in Iran. It would separate the United States from our allies,” McDonough said, adding “it would set a damaging precedent by limiting the ability of future presidents to conduct essential diplomatic negotiations.”
“…If a deal is reached, we will share the details and technical documents with Congress, at which point we welcome a full debate—after all, only Congress could terminate U.S. statutory sanctions on Iran during the duration of the agreement.”
McDonough was the administration representative to the annual conference, facing a much more friendly crowd than National Security Advisor Susan Rice did weeks ago at the AIPAC mega-conference.
And who are they to demand this?
the Occupancy of our White House needs to end...
Absolutely!
God bless you.
The only problem with that is that Neyanyahu has officially committed himself to a TWO-STATE SOLUTION since his Bar-Ilan speech in 2009.
Address by PM Netanyahu at Bar-Ilan University [Relates to Netanyahu’s Re-election]
http://www.freerepublic.com/focus/news/3270248/posts
This is what Netanyahu had been emphatically affirming in the last few days.
THEN ... the next problem you have is the TWENTY YEARS of negoatiations between Israel and the Palestinian Authority ... with the USA as a “SIGNED GUARANTOR” for that process and all those interim agreements.
You have ALL THE GOVERNMENTS of Israel backing a TWO-STATE SOLUTION for the last 20 years, ALL THE PRIME MINISTERS for the last 20 years backing a TWO-STATE SOLUTION, and you have a majority of the ISRAELI POPULATION backing a TWO-STATE SOLUTION.
What Israel sets itself up for, if they back out of TWENTY YEARS of progressing agreements ... is the USA no longer blocking UN Security Council Resolutions against Israel, having sanctions eventually imposed, and then in the end, having a “Gulf War” type of invasion as the conclusion.
Obama the unimitigated and undocumented antiSemite
Moslem from Indonesia is nothing but a Nazi
and al Qaeda operative.
Lucky for him, EXEMPT Pelosi is a liar and perjurer
and the EXEMPT in Congress are lying jackals.
interesting that all four Jewish neighborhoods you cited...
are within ten minutes or so of hoardes of potentially-dangerous people...who, with a little evil ‘direction’... could burn or shoot up all of those Jewish areas in under 24 hours
those Jews may someday be ever so thankful Israel remains strong and free
Forcefully removing entire populations out of an area that is conquered in a war, is a war-crime ... and Hitler did that very thing. They had the Nuremberg War Crimes trials for what Germany did.
Israel does not commit WAR CRIMES and neither do they intend to commit war crimes, despite the fact that Israel’s enemies FALSELY ACCUSE ISRAEL of war crimes.
Ethnic cleansing
http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Ethnic_cleansing
http://www.crimesofwar.org/a-z-guide/ethnic-cleansing/
http://www.encyclopedia.com/topic/war_crimes.aspx
http://www.refworld.org/pdfid/4e09a5622.pdf
The bottom line here is that Israel does not commit war crimes and it will not purpose to commit war crimes.
Woe to those who would make Jerusalem a stumbling block to the nations. Inherit the wind with troubles will be their return.
The mask is off.
the occupation of our White House by these pissants MUST END
‘God bless you.’
Oh, you know He has; so much more than I deserve! :)
My Great Grandparents were German Jews; they converted to Lutheran when they landed here in the early 1900’s. New York, then Philly, then Wisconsin (which looks SO much like Germany, it’s uncanny; thanks to the Army, I’ve seen it, ‘with me own eyes’ - I’ve got some Irish in me to, LOL!)
Though not practicing (also raised in the Lutheran faith - BACK WHEN IT MEANT SOMETHING) I am always, ALWAYS in touch with my, ‘Inner Jew.’ :)
And for some reason, my Inner Jew is easily annoyed; as well she should be these days!
This win for BiBi, and the stick in the eye for 0bama, makes my heart sing!
Kick the fake “Palis” out to Jordan, where they belong!
Diana— Jewess cheesehead. Who knew? ehehhe
Ooooh! Scary!
and Hitler did that very thing
He built highways, too. Should we not do that?
They had the Nuremberg War Crimes trials for what Germany did.
Yes, the victors make the rules and get to do what they want to the losers. Which role do you want for Israel? Winner? Or loser?
It would be nice on 20Jan17 to be free of Obama being in the News EVERY SINGLE DAY !!!!!
*
The, ‘Cheesehead Yamaka’ is going to make me millions! MILLIONS, I tells ya! ;)
Highways are not War Crimes ... :-) ...
There are too many people who FALSELY ACCUSE Israel of committing War Crimes, and then we see their UNWITTING ALLIES who “urge Israel” to commit War Crimes.
As for Israel itself, it fights back against this Propaganda ... either from the malicious accusers, or, the unwitting fools.
This is how it will go.
https://unsealedprophecy.wordpress.com/2014/11/24/psalm-83-war-september-2015/
Download the spreadsheet.
Once the war happens in mid September, you will have confirmation that the timeline is correct.
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