Jerusalem As The Undivided Capital of Israel

During his first foreign policy speech at the American Israel Public Affairs Committee (AIPAC), Obama stated:

"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 …”

This statement alone should provide some clues of where Obama is taking the Palestine-Israel conflict. According to all relevant U.N. Resolutions (the international consensus), the rulings of the World Court and the International Court of Justice, Israel must completely pull out of East Jerusalem. They do not have an iota of sovereignty over it along with Gaza and the West Bank. As it relates to the apartheid wall and illegal settlements, it must be dismantled. Lastly, the ‘Right of Return’ or reparations if they choose not to return must be dealt with justly. These are all important legal questions that must be dealt with as called out by international law and legal bodies. Even HAMAS has come to recognize all of these, joining the rest of the world with the U.S. and Israel in virtual isolation.

In addition to refusing to act against the continued arming of Israeli forces, Obama pays no heed to any of these important legal questions.

 

Next: "Conclusion"