BiBi Addresses U.S. Congress

Israeli Prime Minister Addresses Congress

  Israeli Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu visited Capitol Hill today meeting with members of Congress and delivered an address to a Joint Meeting of Congress.
During his speech to Congress P.M. Netanyahu stated, "As President Obama said, borders will be different than 1967. Israel will not return to 'indefensible' borders."  He added "It's absolutely vital that a Palestinian state be demilitarized."
He suggested that Israel is "willing" to advance the negotiations but must "make painful compromises" for peace.
House Speaker John Boehner (R-OH), Netanyahu and Congressional Leaders also held a briefing with reporters following the joint meeting.
To members of AIPAC last night, Netanyahu said, "Israel cannot return to the indefensible 1967 line," which President Obama said is the foundation for negotiation.

Willing to give up land for peace

Netanyahu Lectures Obama For Good Reasons

                                       
Netanyahu: "Only Peace That Will Endure Is One Based On Reality"

"The only peace that will endure is one that is based on reality, on unshakable facts. I think for there to be peace, the Palestinians will have to accept some basic realities. The first is that while Israel is prepared to make generous compromises for peace, it cannot go back to the 1967 lines. Because these lines are indefensible. Because they don't take into account certain changes that have taken place on the ground, demographic changes that have taken place over the last 44 years," Israeli PM Benjamin Netanyahu said at a joint press availability with President Obama.Remember that before 1967, Israel was all of 9 miles wide. It was half the width of the Washington beltway. These were not the boundaries of peace. They were the boundaries of repeated wars because the attack on Israel was so attractive for them. We can't go back to those indefensible lines and we're going to have to have a long-term military presence along the Jordan [valley]," Netanyahu said.

Haaretz:Obama Doesnot Get It With Israel

 

  

After Obama speech, Netanyahu rejects withdrawal to 'indefensible' 1967 borders

PM responds to Obama's proposal for two state solution based on 1967 borders, says such a solution would leave many Israelis in the West bank outside Israel's borders.

By Mazal Mualem and News Agencies

Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu said on Thursday Israel would object to any withdrawal to "indefensible" borders, adding he expected Washington to allow it to keep major settlement blocs in any peace deal.
In a statement after President Barack Obama's speech outlining Middle East strategy, Netanyahu said before heading to Washington that "the viability of a Palestinian state cannot come at the expense of Israel's existence".

	Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu
	Photo by: Nir Keidar

"That is why Prime Minister Netanyahu expects to hear a reaffirmation from President Obama of U.S. commitments made to Israel in 2004," the statement added, alluding to a previous letter from Washington suggesting Israel could keep larger settlement blocs as part a peace deal with the Palestinians.
"Israel appreciates President's Obama commitment to peace," Netanyahu said, but stressed that he expects Obama to refrain from demanding that Israel withdraw to "indefensible" 1967 borders "which will leave a large population of Israelis in Judea and Samaria and outside Israel's borders."
The tough stand could set the stage for a tense meeting Friday when Netanyahu goes to the White House.
In his speech, Obama said a future Palestinian state must be based in territories captured by Israel in the 1967 Mideast war, with minor adjustments reached through negotiations.