The Guardian says that AIPAC's soft line on a two-state solution is putting it on a collision course with the Obama administration, which the paper says has the urgent aim of getting Palestinians a state.
Here are key details of the of the letter to Obama that AIPAC has endorsed and that is signed by Steny Hoyer (Democratic Majority Leader) and Eric Cantor (Republican Whip):
In negotiations, the U.S. must adhere to the basic principle that we "need to work closely with our democratic ally Israel, who will be taking the greatest risks in any peace agreement." Even when we disagree, "the proven best way forward is to work closely and privately together." I.e., don't pressure Israel.
In order for Palestinians to get a state, there must be an "absolute Palestinian commitment to end violence, terror, and incitement and to build the institutions necessary for a viable Palestinian state living side by side in peace with the Jewish state of Israel inside secure borders." There are several hedges in that commitment, including the words "secure borders."
From the Guardian:
Jeremy Ben-Ami, the leader of J Street, a pro-Israel lobby group that favors the swift establishment of a Palestinian state, said that, while AIPAC claims it supports a two-state solution, the letter is an attempt to prevent the White House from putting pressure on Israel to make that happen.
“They don’t come right out and say we don’t want Israel to make concessions, we don’t want Israel to leave the West Bank,” he said.
“They’ll say, ‘Of course we believe there should be peace’. But then they’ll do what this letter does. “They’ll say, ‘When the Israeli government decides it is ready to have a two-state solution, then there’ll be a two-state solution’.”
From the article linked: The American Israel Public Affairs Committee (AIPAC) this week sent hundreds of lobbyists to urge members of Congress to sign a letter to Obama. The letter, written by two House of Representatives leaders, calls for Israel to be allowed to set the pace of negotiations. In other words, but out Obama. We liked it just the way it was under Bish. The letter says that “the best way to achieve future success between Israelis and Palestinians will be by adhering to basic principles that have undergirded our policy”. These include “acceptance that the parties themselves must negotiate the details of any agreement” as well as demanding that the Palestinians first “build the institutions necessary for a viable state” before gaining independence. You’ve had 60 years, Israel, and your delay has done nothing but harm us in the 21st C so far. The letter, written by two House of Representatives leaders, calls for Israel to be allowed to set the pace of negotiations. If they had the intelligence or skill, fine. But they dont. They’ve been a failure at it for six decades. So, sit down, Israel, and let the pros get it done.
Typos (arrgh): In other words, butt out Obama. We liked it just the way it was under Bush.
Someone hacked your link to the Guardian and pointed it to the Teheran Times. The link at the Guardian is here: http://www.guardian.co.uk/world/2009/may/06/us-is...
Settlement expansion seeing biggest boost since 2003 (Haaretz) http://www.haaretz.com/hasen/spages/1083667.html