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 Israels occupation of the Palestinians and vowed that the Obama administration wont pretend that Israeli Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu didnt 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 isnt 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 backgroundsJewish and Arab, religious and secularcast 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 Thursdays 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, Americas commitment to Israels 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 years delivery of the F-35 Joint Strike Fighter.
We continue to believe that the best way to safeguard Israels long-term security is to bring about a comprehensive peace between Israelis and Palestinianstwo states for two peoples, living side-by-side in security and peace, he said, adding thats why Netanyahus comments on the eve of the electionin 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 ministerwere 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 dont raise questions about the prime ministers 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. Americas commitment to a two-state solution is fundamental to U.S. foreign policy. Its been the goal of both Republican and Democratic presidents, and it remains our goal today. Because it is the only way to secure Israels future as a Jewish and democratic state.
Thats 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 Israels 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 wont accept a bad deal but stressing that theyre pursing a deal thats both realistic and achievable.
Congress should not seek to undermine negotiations before a deal is reached, McDonough said. Im sure you heard about the letter some Republican senators addressed directly to Irans leaders. It was a blatant political moveas 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. Lets 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 debateafter 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.
That would be my estimation as well. It is sure as hell they don't give a rip about human rights and civilization.
Occupation of the White Mosque by sharia loving, jihadi loving supporters of Mad Mo must go.
Methinks that this McDonough moron is a history illiterate.
From Time Immemorial, by Joan Peters would give him a quick, thorough education (all 900 pages of it.) Joan Peters started out to write a book sympathetic to the vague idea of a "palestine" and "occupation."
Being an honest researcher and historian, her book, seeking and documenting the truth and reality, ended up the opposite of what she originally set out to write.
Complete with awesome references and bibliography.
Please don’t p ss off da Fuhrer or he might open the FEMA camps to control all Jewish supporters.
Lies. There was no "independent Palestine" in 1967, so nothing to "swap." They just get uglier the closer they come to undermining Israel's existence.
Does his name start with a D or a P?
Hey, that FOOL can go take a long leap into a short lake They have no reason to take up space and oxygen.
In my opinion you have that wrong, the Israelis should just wait for the next war and exterminate all of them.
You never let the ENEMY set up house keeping in your own camp.
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