Ahead Of Obama Address To AIPAC, Netanyahu Rejects 1967 Borders
Sources reported that a dispute has emerged between the U.S. President, Barack Obama, and the Israeli Prime Minister, Benjamin Netanyahu, over the borders of a future Palestinian state.
During his meeting with the U.S. President at the White House in Washington, Netanyahu rejected Obama’s vision for the borders of a Palestinian state in the West Bank and Gaza Strip, in what appeared to be the opening of a deep divide between the United States and Israel.
In an unusually sharp rebuke to Israel’s closest ally, Netanyahu told Obama his endorsement of the Palestinian demand to go back to Israel’s 1967 boundaries – meaning big land concessions – would leave Israel “indefensible.”
But analysts said Netanyahu’s reaction appeared to less about diplomacy than about local politics, both Israeli and American.
“He has too many people in his (hardline) coalition who are allergic to the 1967 borders, he had to do something,” analysts added.
Obama is today expected to address the annual assembly in Washington of the pro-Israel lobby organization AIPAC.
Netanyahu’s spokesman said that the Obama-Netanyahu dispute was blown way out of proportion.