Netahyahu: 1967 Lines Are Indefensible, Can't Negotiate With a Government Backed by Hamas

Moments ago, following a lengthy meeting with the president, Israel's Prime Minister Bejamin Netanyahu responded to President Obama's call for Israel and Palestine to return to pre-1967 borders, saying, "While Israel is willing to make generous compromises for peace, it cannot go back to the 1967 lines because these lines are indefensible because they don't take into account certain changes that have taken place." Netayahu also said, "Israel cannot negotiate with a Palestinian government that is backed by Hamas."

While Netanyahu admitted to differences with President Obama, he believes they share an overall direction and desire to work together toward a genuine peace. That is Netanyahu's priority, as he says, "History will not give the Jewish people another chance."
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It was a stunning speech, one where an Israeli leader stated his opinion in public in an unapologetic manner that has not been seen since Menachem Begin.

Netanyahu's red lines are not very different than the red lines that every Israeli government has had since 1967 (and I showed earlier that Yitzchak Rabin was more hawkish in 1995.) The problem has been that they have never been consistently enunciated by Israeli leaders to the rest of the world. It felt as if every prime minister felt that the facts were so obvious that they didn't have to belabor the point.

But the Palestinian Arabs never stop repeating their own red lines - 1967 borders, "right of return," prisoners, Jerusalem and so on. And because they have been so consistent, and Israel hasn't been, the topsy-turvy message  based on historical lies and distortions have gained prominence.

This speech should not have been stunning. It should have been the same speech every Israeli leader ever gave to every President. It may be too late. And, no doubt, it will be spun as a huge insult to the White House by the same people who cannot see that Palestinian Arab leadership has made much worse insults,much more directly to America, much more often.

But while Bibi's speech may be thirty years too late -  better late than never.