By COLlive and news wires
President Barack Obama on Thursday made official a long-held but rarely stated U.S. policy that a future Palestinian state should be based on borders that existed before the 1967 Middle East war.
The contours for a two-state solution to the Israel-Palestinian conflict pushed by the United States have previously been based on the borders in place prior to the war 44 years ago in which Israel seized the West Bank, Gaza Strip, Golan Heights and Sinai Peninsula.
However, Obama took U.S. endorsement of the policy a step further by expressing it so clearly in a major speech on the Middle East.
“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 said in the concluding section of his 45-minute address that looked at political and social change sweeping across the Middle East and North Africa.
He also said: “For the Palestinians, efforts to delegitimize Israel will end in failure. Symbolic actions to isolate Israel at the United Nations in September won’t create an independent state. Palestinian leaders will not achieve peace or prosperity if Hamas insists on a path of terror and rejection. And Palestinians will never realize their independence by denying the right of Israel to exist.”
VIDEO: Obama’s speech
In a response to the speech, possible Republican presidential candidate Mitt Romney said Obama “has thrown Israel under the bus.”
“He has disrespected Israel and undermined its ability to negotiate peace,” the former Massachusetts governor said. “He has also violated a first principle of American foreign policy, which is to stand firm by our friends.”
Moments before the President’s speech, Algemeiner director Dovid Efune spoke on Fox News Live about the origins of the Arab Israeli conflict, the Arab phased plan and the dangers of the positions taken by the Obama administration.
Efune, a Lubavitcher who lives in Manhattan, repeated the Rebbe’s stance that territorial concessions would just endanger human lives.
VIDEO: Efune on Fox News
shaina thats ur bother in law…. 🙂
I think David said it just like the way it is, and in such a coherent manner.
Good job
a BIT wrong??? do u realize what the president said???? going back to 1967 borders is outright danger to eretz yisroel and could chas vsholom only continue from there…. whats wrong with saying that if the pres says we should go back to 1967 borders than america should go back to pre civil war policies?? that makes 100% sense to me!
You are naive, very naive to think that empty words of ‘solidarity’ cancel out the very direct plan of action supprted by Obama to take away Israel’s strategic power. Yes, it would be very comforting when Israel would c”v become palestine, to then hear him say how deeply he condoles with us and, of course, pledges his unstinting support..
yes OK the president is a bit wrong but u cant say come and be my slave THAT IS RACIST…SHAME ON YOU 49. we were once slaves remember that.
What an idiot this president!
U know what… we’ll agree to a 1967 border for Israel if u take the USA back to the 1860 borders thent he native americans take back what u killed them for and then u Osama can come and be my slave!
everything was so clear! he made so much sense.wooooow!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!
Before you run for the hills shouting and screaming over President Obama’s middle east peace plan lets get something straight A) President Obama made it clear, quite clear, crystal clear, he pointed out his unnerving support of Israel and her safety, and i quote “Our commitment to Israel’s security is unshakable” “”Efforts to delegitimize Israel will end in failure. Symbolic actions to isolate Israel at the United Nations in September won’t create an independent state.” “Palestinian leaders will not achieve peace or prosperity if Hamas insists on a path of terror and rejection, and Palestinians will never realize their independence… Read more »
Obama expressed commitment to israeli security, criticized the hamas abbas alliance, denounced the palestinians unilaterally declaring a state, and agreed that any future agreement would keep the major settlement blocks in israel.
So he mentioned 1967 borders…..
We should thank him for the things we agree with and just say that as the president has commited himself to security, returning to 67 borders will not be feasable.
And blame the arabs, quoting the parts in obama’s speech, where he criticizes them!
very impressed and inspired. thank you dovid efune.
this is a real Lub chossid
I know that seems clever, but if we went back to 1860, Obama wouldnt be your slave. His ancestors were actually slave owners on one side, and Union soldiers trying to end slavery on the other… So yeah…I dont think that a “cute” racist comment is the way to deal with this. If anything, be happy he said it, because now he is going to lose Jewish support and a lot of the Dem’s money comes from Jewish Donors. Also you have to be an idiot if you think that Netanyahu is going to listen to him and give up… Read more »
Everyone is complaining, but the only people who come to the defense of Israel are “evil” GOP conservatives. Our “esteemed” NYS Senators Schummer, Gillibrand and etc.. are quiet, but in November 2012 most of Jews in NYC will pull lever for them and Obama.
Thank you! We need more such interviews!
Great job Dovid, I am becoming a fan…., just one small note (something that bugs me every time I hear this issue raised), whenever they bring up the 450,000 “Palestinian refugee” issue, please please please point out to them that there was also a “Jewish refugee” issue, namely the 950,000 Jews that were kicked out of the Arab/Muslim lands between the years 1947-73, no one ever talks about them or the fact that most of them were absorbed into Israel. So even if the Palestinians have a legitimate claim, we have a legitimate answer, namely that in 1948 there was… Read more »
Is there an anger of some sort i see?
Efune is totally brilliant. Speaking on Fox news to thousands and thousands of listeners…relaying the Rebbe’s message…THIS is a shliach!
thank you
Obama in his speech just told Israel that it should go back to its 1967 borders. Really? How about we go back to 1860 and you can be my slave?
mendel
Kol Hakavod, That was brilliant. Keep up the good work!
We all heard his speech and know exactly what he said.
Who are you? Why do you feel the need to excuse Obama and play down what he said? Are you one of the Obamatons who gets his hourly talking points from brackobama.com? Is it your job to monitor this website and speak up for him?
I agree with all the complements till now. But, what impressed me the most, was the mentioning that the safety of Israel is up to military experts. Exactly what the Rebbe always said time and again. Keep it up.
Was the fact that your relayed what the Rebbe told us to say. And you can see that it stuck! Keep it up!!
#20,please go back to the speech! the President clearly said that.and i quote ”The borders of Israel and Palestine should be based on the 1967 lines WITH mutually agreed swaps”.
yidden don’t worry! i don’t think this Israeli government will go back to the ’67 borders.the prime minister totally disregards what the president said .
reb dovid,you did a great job in this interview.you expressed the rebba’s view very well.when speaking of perserving live.
Hey, this article goes right along with the one right before it. San Francisco, the White House. The whole world is against us and we will only stay standing if we stay strong.
Dovid. You are a source of pride… and thanks to all of the commetators for the posotive feedback. Its awesome to unite in supporting good!
There is absolutely no difference between Obama’s “new” postion and the “old” U.S. position, “a secure israel within the ‘67 borders”.
If you look at the text of the speech it says “the borders of Israel and Palestine should be based on the 1967 lines with mutually agreed swaps, so that secure and recognized borders are established for both states.”
The two-state solution was anyways based on the ‘67 borders, albeit not exactly what had existed pre-’67 and Obama is just reiterating that.
really did a great job, held his own even when the self hating jew tried to knock him…
Well done Mr. Efune! I was particularly impressed by your sharp knowledge of historical facts and that you keep up to date on reading relevant political pieces (in the NYT). Good job, just a small note, you said some words so fast, they got slurred. But either way, Kol Hakavod!
one of the largest JEWISH news organisations is what he said
Finally a well represented member.
david efune keep talking,people need to hear this.
Associated Press has fueled a firestorm by misrepresenting the President’s speech. He said no such thing. He said that borders should be negotiated with “mutually agreed-upon land swaps.” Associated Press misreported the President’s words and this went into news feeds to hundreds of affiliates around the world.
great job
What are you soooo bitter about ? you obviously care for some reason…
Dovid is a real credit and huge asset to our cause. He is well spoken, informed and extremely intelligent. A real credit to Chabad and us Jews as a whole.
Bravo, I hope to see him as our spokesman more and more
Yes he is a Lubavitcher!
Efune for President!! lol
But seriously – such a young and intelligent and well spoken person!! BH someone is getting a voice – but they need to get him on CNN, BBC to really combat evil!
you speak well and know your stuff.
Really just some of the best commentary on the subject I’ve ever seen, this guy is THE TRUTH.
so impressed. very well spoken indeed. its refreshing to see a lubavitcher express himself so eloquently. and of course i agree with everything he said. unfortunately obama isnt listening.
I thought Dovid was exceptional in handling the questions thrown his way in an honest and professional manner. A k”H..
It is so nice to hear such an eloquent speaker representing Israel and Chabad. You make your grandparents very proud!
Obamas an idiot!!
he should have all the brochos from the hashem
Gooo Dovid!!!!!!
kol hakavod what naches this must be for your parents and he rebbe
Why is it that the Jews who spread propaganda against Israel always start out by saying, ‘I am Zionist, I am a supporter of Israel, BUT…..”
Dovid Efune is an eloquent, charming, and articulate spokesman. Is he a Lub?
Only Moshiach can bring the shalom.
“One of the largest news organisations in this country” 🙂
Tells you all you need to know about how reliable new is…
Nuf said
Dovid Efune thank you for acting like real a chosid
with no beating-around the bush
keep it up
ahh gesmak to herin
ahhh rebbes chosid
thank you so much
Efune the man!!!!!!!!!!!!!!