The meetings, speeches, and statements in Washington last week by U.S. President Barack Obama and Israeali Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu elicited much commentary, both pro and con. Some thought the prime minister’s speech to the U.S. Congress defended his view that Israel has done all it could to promote peace. Others disagreed, saying that the speech did not make any progress regarding borders, Jerusalem, refugees, security arrangements, or the agreement between Fatah and Hamas.

 

Controversy arose in particular over for President Obama’s call on May 19 for the borders of Israel and Palestine to be “based on the 1967 lines with mutually agreed swaps” and the prime minister’s strong statement May 20 that the 1967 borders are “indefensible.”   President Obama and others responded that he was not calling for a return to the 1967 borders, but some commentators suggested the president was not attentive enough to Israel’s security. Friends of the president felt it necessary to come to his defense.     

 

Many analysts concluded the exchanges left little hope for progress toward an agreement.

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