President Obama personally intervened into Arab-Israeli peace talks for the first time Thursday, bluntly calling for Israel, a longtime U.S. ally, to relinquish key territories — including the Gaza Strip, West Bank and East Jerusalem — to a newly established Palestinian state. “The international community is tired of an endless process that never produces an outcome,” a frustrated Obama said toward the end of a 45-minute speech at the State Department. “The dream of a Jewish and democratic state cannot be fulfilled with permanent occupation.”
Obama said the Arab-Israeli conflict has “cast a shadow over the region” and he accused both sides of contributing to the decades-old stalemate in peace negotiations.
He tried softening the blows to Israel, however, ahead of Israeli Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu’s visit to the White House on Friday. Netanyahu is opposed to returning Israel to its pre-1967 borders, which would force Tel Aviv to surrender territories it won in the bloody Six-Day War.
“Our commitment to Israel’s security is unshakeable,” Obama said. “And we will stand against attempts to single it out for criticism in international forums.”
The president came down harder on the Palestinians, scolding them for striking a power-sharing agreement with the militant group Hamas and bypassing the Israeli peace process by attempting to gain statehood through the United Nations in September.
“Palestinian leaders will not achieve peace or prosperity if Hamas insists on a path of terror and rejection,” Obama said. “And Palestinians will never realize their independence by denying the right of Israel to exist.”
Obama’s remarks generated an acidic response on Capitol Hill, where lawmakers accused the president of abandoning Israel.
Obama wove his remarks on the peace talks into a broader speech on U.S. policy toward the Middle East and North Africa, in light of the democratic revolutions sweeping the region.
“In the months ahead, America must use all our influence to encourage reform in the region,” he said, promising economic support to governments that respond peacefully to democratic transformations.
Citing Egypt as an example of a peaceful transition of power, Obama pledged $2 billion in debt relief and loan guarantees to help the country rebuild its economy.
Obama also threatened repercussions for countries — friend or foe — that choose not to fulfill the legitimate aspirations of their people. So far, Obama’s approach toward “punishing” the countries that respond to anti-government protests with violence has varied widely, drawing rebuke from critics who say the inconsistency makes the United States appear partial to some nations.
Obama on Thursday reiterated his calls for Yemeni President Ali Abdullah Saleh to step aside, but expressed support for the current leadership in Bahrain, which continues to cling to power. Two months ago, Obama joined NATO forces in launching airstrikes on Libyan President Moammar Gadhafi’s military forces after the Gadhafi ordered troops to fire on protesters. But Obama refrained from calling for the ouster of Syrian President Bashar Assad, who also ordered the killing of protesters.
The president did, however, offer Assad an ultimatum Thursday after ratcheting up the pressure by freezing his U.S. assets earlier this week.
“President Assad now has a choice,” Obama said. “He can lead [a] transition, or get out of the way.”
