May 23, 2011
To the Editor,
Both at the State Department on May 19th and at AIPAC on May 22nd, President Obama spoke about Israel having borders with the new Palestinian State which in turn would have borders with Jordan and Egypt. But, remarkably there was no reference to an Israel border with Jordan and Egypt. By virtue of the 1979 treaty Egypt already has recognized an international border with Israel that runs south of the Gaza strip and then along Sinai, i.e. on the west side of the Negev. And by virtue of the 1994 treaty Jordan has already recognized an international border with Israel that runs down the Jordan River and then south along the east side of the Negev. Does this mean that Obama wants us to believe that the Negev will be ceded to a new Palestinian State? If not, how could the same egregious "mistake" be included in both speeches?
Obama at the State Department on May 19th:
"So while the core issues of the conflict must be negotiated, the basis of those negotiations is clear: a viable Palestine, a secure Israel. The United States believes that negotiations should result in two states, with permanent Palestinian borders with Israel, Jordan, and Egypt, and permanent Israeli borders with Palestine."
Obama at AIPAC on May 22nd:
"I said that the United States believes that negotiations should result in two states, with permanent Palestinian borders with Israel, Jordan, and Egypt, and permanent Israeli borders with Palestine."
– Allen Z. Hertz
(86) 131 4395 7308
Shenzhen, China