In addressing AIPAC, Obama defended his 1967 borders remarks by saying that what he said publicly has been held privately by all past administrations.
Maybe so, but by publicly calling on Israel to return to its pre-1967 borders, Obama has given the Palestinians an enormous advantage in any future peace negotiations. And he had to know that his snake oil pitch would cripple Israel’s negotiating position.
Here is Charles Krauthammer’s response to Obama’s borders remarks:
“A new formulation favorable to maximal Arab demands. True, that idea has been the working premise for negotiations since 2000. But no president had ever before publicly and explicitly endorsed the 1967 lines.
Even more alarming to Israel is Obama's omission of previous American assurances to recognize "realities on the ground" in adjusting the 1967 border, meaning U.S. agreement that Israel would incorporate the thickly populated, close-in settlements in any land swap. By omitting this, Obama leaves the impression of indifference to the fate of these settlements. This would be a significant change in U.S. policy and a heavy blow to the Israeli national consensus.”
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