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.
Damnable Nazis.
This administration from hell can go to hell right now.
God bless and will keep Israel.
J Street appears to be an anti-American, anti-Semitic Soros=funded front group, part of the Enemy Within
...imho. Has zero credibility ... dangerous to USA, inho.
The moment we see JStreet, we turn the TV off or read another article instead
And so it is now confirmed that the Obama administration has switched sides in the war on terror — and is now actively supporting the terrorists.
Kick the fake “Palis” out to Jordan, where they belong!
What an incredible incompentent jerk that couldn’t be a bagger at a grocery store and move to management in the real world!
The occupation of the White House needs to end.
The white house muslim infestation must end.
One need only glance at the outburst of hostility to the church and Jewish people during the Obama regime...both in USA and in Europe and elsewhere...
to see the reality of serious, very serious Evil acting in the world. Obama keeps stirring it up, too....
Its appalling...disgusting....sickening...
So the Rough Rider is being sent to bomb Israel instead of ISIS ? I hate Illinois Nazi’s.
Denis McDonough. Who the hell spells his name with one “n”.
I think the “D” is a mistake. Ought to be a “P.”
He’s a little *rick for sure.
Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu explained, after the election, that he did not abandon Bar-Ilan and/or the TWO-STATE SOLUTION!!
Obama is making up several issues ... which are really “non-issues” ... and are for only making “political hay”! Obama wants to get rid of Ambassador Dermer, because of the arrangements made through him (with the Speaker of the House) to have Netanyahu give a speech to a Joint Session of Congress. That really fired up the political opposition to the Iran agreement that Obama is trying to push through, and therefore Obama is looking for some “payback” ... namely “get rid of Dermer”!
And in regards to the other issue, and Obama accusing Netanyahu of being against a TWO-STATE SOLUTION ... that’s just an outright lie from Obama.
Obama is making this out to be REAL BIG ISSUE and is throwing a Temper Tantrum over it, even though he knows it’s TOTALLY FALSE and it’s a LIE that he’s telling the American public. Obama is hoping the FOOLS in America will believe him and not Netanyahu, when Netanyahu says he STILL supports a Two-State Solution, per Bar-Ilan.
The reason why Obama is making this out to be a big issue, is that he wants to “use it” to abandon Israel in the United Nations (by refusing to block UN Security Council Resolutions against Israel) and in the future by implementing sanctions against Israel.
As Obama knows very well, and as Netanyahu has made clear repeatedly after the election ... Netanyahu has not abandoned his Bar-Ilan policy speech regarding his support for the Two-State Solution.
Obama is trying to take a misunderstood campaign blurb and turn into a major policy reversal. It’s no such thing and Obama knows it!
This is what I said regarding what the Liberal press and Obama are doing ...
— — —
This a FALSE statement from the press and from Obama. Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu has REPEATEDLY sought to correct the mistaken impression that he does not support a TWO-STATE SOLUTION.
He does support it and he says that he has maintained that same support ... going back to his Bar-Ilan speech, when Obama first got into office. He says his position in support of the Two-State Solution has not changed since then.
What it is ... is that the liberal press and Obama want to hammer on Netanyahu no matter what ... and they’ve picked up on a LIE that Netanyahu does not support the Two-State Solution.
Here’s Netanyahu’s support for a Two-State Solution from what he has been referring to in the last several days to COUNTER THIS LIE!
Address by PM Netanyahu at Bar-Ilan University [Relates to Netanyahu’s Re-election]
http://www.freerepublic.com/focus/news/3270248/posts
Nothing should change. Israel needs to hold the west bank they gained when the arabs attacked. They shouldn’t be a nation state, with a military dagger right above the heart of Israel in perpetuity.
On the other hand, Israel should not annex them into greater Israel. Then they could vote. That would give the enemy the ability to influence Israeli elections.
So it needs to just stay as it. A district administered by Israel, without independence, and without the PLO suicide bombers becoming Israeli citizen voters.
The “solution” is for things to remain as they are right this minute. They need never change.
Those particular ARABS that are in those “territories” that Israel has under military control and the other one which is under Hamas control ... were already there (and descendants, now) when Israel militarily took control of the land from Jordan and Egypt, in the 1967 War.
And being that they are living there and Israel took military control, Israel is required to take care of civilian control ... or ... delegate that control, as they have done with the Palestinian Authority.
And then, if we go back to the 1948 war, Israel just about BEGGED the ARABS to stay in Israel and NOT FLEE the land of Israel, like the Arab Armies told them to do!
The ARABS who did stay in Israel Proper are now FULL CITIZENS of the nation of Israel. They make up about 20% of the population of Israel proper.
Here’s what Netanyahu just said about them, today ...
Netanyahu Apologizes for Remarks on Arabs, Says ‘I am Prime Minister of All Israelis’
http://www.freerepublic.com/focus/f-news/3271111/posts
Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu on Monday night apologized for controversial comments he made on the eve of elections and if he caused offense to Israel’s Arab population.
“I know that the words that I said some days ago offended Israel’s Arabs. I did not intend at all that this would happen. I am very sorry about that,” he said when hosting representatives from Israel’s minority communities at the prime minister’s residence, including the leadership of Israel’s Arab communities.
Netanyahu emphasized to his audience: “I see myself as the prime minister of each and every one of you, of all of the citizens of Israel, without distinction over religion, race or gender. This is how it was, and how it will continue to be.” As the audience enthusiastically applauded his comments, Netanyahu continued, “I see all of Israel’s citizens as partners in building the State of Israel, which will be strong and united, for the benefit all of its citizens.”
I agree completely.
Expel the Arabs and annex the land.
Is that what he meant?
Democrats believe in a Jewish homeland... in South Florida, Brooklyn, suburban Chicago, and Los Angeles.
Hell no ! Anti- semites !
God bless Israel and God protect Israel.
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