Arab anger forces Obama to backtrack

iVillage Member
Registered: 08-18-2005
Arab anger forces Obama to backtrack
3
Fri, 06-06-2008 - 1:30pm

http://www.israelnationalnews.com/News/News.aspx/126429


Arab Anger Forces Obama to Backtrack on Jerusalem

by Hana Levi Julian



(IsraelNN.com) Within 24 hours of expressing his firm support for a united Jerusalem in a speech to a pro-Israel lobby organization, US Senator Barack Obama found himself forced to backtrack in the face of Arab anger on Thursday.


Obama had managed to enrage Palestinian Authority Chairman and Fatah leader Mahmoud Abbas (Abu Mazen) with his first foreign policy speech since garnering enough delegates to win the nomination at the Democratic convention in Denver this summer.




"Let me be clear," said Obama from the podium at the American Israel Public Affairs Committee (AIPAC) in Washington on Wednesday, "Israel's security is sacrosanct. It is non-negotiable. The Palestinians need a state that is contiguous and cohesive and that allows them to prosper. But any agreement with the Palestinian people must preserve Israel's identity as a Jewish State, with secure, recognized and defensible borders. Jerusalem will remain the capital of Israel and it must remain undivided," he declared.

Responding to Obama's remarks, a livid Abbas told reporters, "This statement is totally rejected. The whole world knows that holy Jerusalem was occupied in 1967 and we will not accept a Palestinian state without having Jerusalem as the capital."

iVillage Member
Registered: 01-02-2008
Fri, 06-06-2008 - 2:06pm

"Obama went on to expressed the view that there must be a way in which "everyone has access to the extraordinary religious sites in Old Jerusalem, but that Israel has a legitimate claim on that city.""

But they DO!!! It's just that the Palestinian's want it as their CAPITAL, not just "access"!

Hey Obama: "You can please SOME of the people SOME of the time!!"

rhonda-1.gif picture by fouripleys

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iVillage Member
Registered: 05-29-2003
Sat, 06-07-2008 - 12:38am

Just wondering if he'll get the Florida vote? Seems like he's playing politics.. trying to make everyone happy instead of taking a stand and living with it.


on a side note.. I think the Palestinians won't ever be happy no matter what.

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iVillage Member
Registered: 01-02-2008
Sat, 06-07-2008 - 12:58am

"Seems like he's playing politics.. trying to make everyone happy instead of taking a stand and living with it."

Exactly. I much more respect the politician with whom I disagree, but stands for their convictions!

rhonda-1.gif picture by fouripleys

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