Bibi to BHO: 'Thanks, But No Thanks'

Some commentary I read before Obama’s speech this afternoon wondered out loud whether Obama could control his compulsion to lean on Israel. Well, we have the answer and the answer is no. The next question is will Netanyahu be able to control his habit of knuckling under to Obama’s “pressure.” The early indications (below) are somewhat encouraging but with Bibi you never know. We should get a better answer when Netanyahu addresses AIPAC on Sunday.

ynetnews.com, 5/19/11

Netanyahu says ‘No’ to 1967 borders

PM expects Obama to reaffirm Bush pledges, whereby settlement blocs will remain in Israel

Responding to President Barack Obama’s major Mideast policy speech, Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu says that Israel will not be withdrawing to the 1967 borders as part of a peace deal with the Palestinians.

The PM said that Israel appreciates the president’s commitment to peace, but added that he expects Obama to reaffirm US commitments to Israel from 2004. According to the pledges made by then-President George W. Bush, the Jewish state will not be asked to retreat to the 1967 borders and large settlement blocs will remain in Israel’s hands.

“Israel believes that in order for peace to prevail, the establishment of a Palestinian state cannot come at the expense of the State of Israel’s existence,” a statement issued by Netanyahu’s office said. “The Palestinians, and not only the United States, must recognize Israel as the Jewish people’s nation-state.”

The prime minister also stressed that President Bush’s pledges were meant to reinforce Israel’s Jewish character, by making it clear that Palestinian refugees will be taken in by Palestine and not by Israel.

“Without a solution to the problem of refugees by settling them outside Israel’s borders, no territorial concession would end the conflict,” Netanyahu’s statement said.

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