Coats: Obama muddied waters on Israel
WASHINGTON, D.C Indiana Senator Dan Coats on Monday accused President Obama of muddying the waters when it comes to America’s approach to Israel.
Coats spoke on the Senate floor Monday in anticipation of Israel Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu’s address to a joint session of Congress scheduled for Tuesday. Coats used the opportunity to criticize President Obama over the president’s recent call for the formation of a Palestinian state based on Israel’s 1967 borders, before Israel enlarged its territory as a result of the ArabIsraeli War.
“The president’s remarks, which were delivered just before Prime Minister Netanyahu’s arrival in the United States, muddied the waters of American policy toward Israel and its troubled region,” said Coats in his speech. “I am extremely disappointed that the president preemptively declared U.S. support for a Palestinian state based on the 1967 borders. President Obama’s declaration that Israel must withdraw to the 1967 border lines is unprecedented and unwelcome.”
Coats continued, “It is true that previous administrations have referred to the 1967 lines in the past as a reference point in negotiations. And it is also true that the Palestinians regard the 1967 lines as their beginning negotiating position. But even with the president’s vague acknowledgment of the need for land swaps, no U.S. administration has adopted the Palestinian position as its official policy until now. How can this help restart negotiations or drive them toward a successful conclusion?”
Coats went on to support Netanyahu’s claim that the 1967 borders would be indefensible. The senator also expressed concern about a reconciliation agreement between the Palestinian Authority and the terrorist group Hamas, saying the U.S. cannot encourage Israel to pursue negotiations with a coalition involving terrorists and taking the president to task for not using the word ‘terror’ or giving a solid indication that negotiations with Hamas would be impossible.
Obama has said he would put pressure on the Palestinians to make sure they abide by any peace agreement ironed out in negotiations. The president is trying to move negotiations forward to keep the Palestinans from bringing their bid for statehood to the United Nations in September, a move that the president believes would only further isolate Israel.
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