Obama on Israel, Palestine: Borders Should Be Based on 1967 Lines

In a speech on the Middle East Thursday, President Obama gave what was to some an unexpected stance on the Israeli-Palestinian conflict in stating that the United States believes the borders for the two countries should follow 1967 lines. The president began his remarks on the region by discussing the challenges plaguing both nations, but saying that the Palestinian people must have the right “to govern themselves and reach their full potential in a sovereign and contiguous state.”

President Obama concluded by saying that in order to reach a resolution that is just and fair, an agreement must respect the rights of both Israelis and Palestinians. In the end, he said, the choice must be between “hate and hope; the shackles of the past, or the promise of the future.”

UPDATE: Israeli Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu reacted to President Obama’s speech, rejecting his call for the reinstatement of 1967 border lines. In a statement from the prime minister’s office, Netanyahu said that the ’67 lines “are both indefensible and … would leave major Israeli population centers in Judea and Samaria beyond those lines.”

On the contrary, Palestine’s leader, President Mahmoud Abbas, responded with a quite different sentiment. “President Abbas expresses his appreciation of the continuous efforts exerted by President Obama with the objective of resuming the permanent status talks in the hope of reaching a final status agreement,” said Palestinian official Saeb Erekat.