Subscribe to Print Edition | Wed., April 22, 2009 Nisan 28, 5769 | | Israel Time: 21:20 (EST+7)
Haaretz israel news English
web haaretz.com
Haaretz Toolbar
Diplomacy
Defense Jewish World Opinion National
Print Edition
Car Rental
Books Haaretz Magazine Business Real Estate Joy of Giving Travel Week's End Anglo File TLV 100
Last update - 23:58 08/04/2009
ANALYSIS / Obama saying Israel still bound to two-state solution
By Aluf Benn, Haaretz Correspondent
Tags: Annapolis Conference 

Dialogue between Jerusalem and Washington over the past week has been done via speech-making. Foreign Minister Avigdor Lieberman swept aside the Annapolis process, and U.S. President Barack Obama swept it right back. Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu rejected the two-state solution and Obama "clarified" that the United States not only "strongly" supports it, but he himself intends to advance it.

What's going on here? Clearly the Netanyahu government and the Obama administration have not yet developed discrete communication channels to let them coordinate their policy and avoid statements that would embarrass the other party. The response from Netanyahu's bureau after Obama's speech was mainly intended to play for time "to formulate a policy."

Obama conveyed four messages to Netanyahu in his address in the Turkish parliament.
Advertisement
1. Don't waste my time trying to revoke the "two-state solution" and replace it with a new vision that would not include an independent Palestinian state beside Israel.

The Israeli right, which was never keen on the Palestinian state, had hoped that the repeated failures in the talks on the final-status agreement would take the idea off the table. They hoped it would be replaced with something else, enabling Israel to continue occupying the West Bank, directly or with Jordan. Obama made it clear Monday that he is committed to the formula George W. Bush set.

2. The government change in Israel does not free it of its Bush-era commitment in the Annapolis declaration and road map - a Palestinian state with territorial contiguity in the West Bank, freezing settlements and evacuating outposts, economic and security assistance to the Palestinian Authority and continuous negotiations on all core issues.

Israeli officials noticed that Obama's people didn't mention the Annapolis process and interpreted this as the burial of Bush and Condoleezza Rice's ideas. Lieberman announced that only the road map, not Annapolis, was binding because the map conditions the negotiations on quashing the Palestinian terror organizations. The president said this interpretation was unacceptable and that the Annapolis declaration was alive and well.

3. The Syrian track is legitimate, but takes a lower priority. The Bush administration firmly objected to the Turkish-brokered talks with the Syrians. Obama thanked the Turks for their help and involvement but did not promise that America would assist an Israeli-Syrian arrangement, unlike its commitment to the Palestinian track. His declared order of priorities, like Netanyahu's, is the Palestinians first.

4. Obama's initiative to talk with Iran is not tantamount to accepting an Iranian nuclear bomb. The president demanded that Iran choose between building weapons and building a better future. In his speech in Prague on Sunday he suggested that the Iranians continue using the non-military nuclear plan under tight supervision or risk isolation, international pressure and a nuclear arms race in the region. But he did not speak of military action and didn't even use the vague "all options are on the table." Netanyahu will have to work hard to convince Obama that the real choice is bombing Iran's nuclear facilities or accepting that country to the nuclear club.

Obama's speech in Prague contained two more messages for Israel. Obama mentioned Tel Aviv among the cities threatened with nuclear attack, alongside New York, Moscow, Islamabad, Mumbai, Paris and Prague. He warned that even one bomb on one of them would kill hundreds of thousands and undermine world order and even human survival.

The second message was Obama's call to eliminate nuclear weapons, one of his campaign promises. The practical steps he mentioned included formulating a treaty to stop producing fissile materials that could be used in nuclear weapons.

More than a decade ago, in Netanyahu's previous tenure, this initiative almost caused a crisis between Jerusalem and Washington. Since then Israeli officials seem to have internalized the idea and realized it would resurface. It will be interesting to see if Obama discusses it at his next meeting with the prime minister.

Related articles:
  • Israel pledges to work with U.S. for Mideast peace
  • Netanyahu invited to Egypt for official visit
  • Lieberman: Israel is changing its policies on peace
    • Bookmark to del.icio.us  
     
    Branding Eli Wiesel
    WATCH: On Holocaust Day, Ahmadinejad entourage calls Nobel laureate a 'Zio-Nazi.'
    Remembering Shoah
    IN PICTURES / Annual memorial day begins with ceremony at Yad Vashem museum.
      1.   Hello, anybody home for peace? 06:57  |  Sal-Chicago 07/04/09
      2.   No Jewish leader has the right to abandon any part of the Land... 07:35  |  Jean Van Daem 07/04/09
      3.   Israel And Jordan: The Only 2-State Solution There Will Be 07:35  |  Yishai Kohen 07/04/09
      4.   Not even close 07:35  |  Colin Wright 07/04/09
      5.   "recognize that Israeli SECURITY concerns are legitimate" Obama 07:37  |  Akram Zekaria 07/04/09
      6.   "Obama telling Nethanyahu he`s bound to two-state solution. 07:44  |  Akram Zekaria 07/04/09
      7.   Annapolis declaration??? 07:48  |  Yisrael 07/04/09
      8.   Is`t a blind Change or a blind Date ! 08:13  |  Akram Zekaria 07/04/09
      9.   2~Yisrael : It is just like a blind date.. 08:21  |  Akram Zekaria 07/04/09
      10.   Exactly, Akram #1 08:25  |  Esther 07/04/09
      11.   Most Israelis also committed to 2-state solution 08:27  |  B`galil 07/04/09
      12.   Clues about Obama 08:27  |  Nechama 07/04/09
      13.   stark choice 08:31  |  American 07/04/09
      14.   Note to Obama: Talk is useless 08:36  |  Natallie Durson 07/04/09
      15.   Israel will get Peace. `67 borders. Like it or not. 08:37  |  Lou Medel 07/04/09
      16.   capable?? 08:48  |  sameer 07/04/09
      17.   The U.S. should be bound to a two state solution 08:52  |  Noah 07/04/09
      18.   Mr President. 09:41  |  David Nigel Braham 07/04/09
      19.   #10, Nechama 09:51  |  Cipora Julianna Kohn 07/04/09
      20.   #4, Akram, Israeli PM is "bound UNDER OATH" 09:57  |  Cipora Julianna Kohn 07/04/09
      21.   Please Oh Please Noah - Tell us 10:17  |  Mark of Lewiston 07/04/09
      22.   Israel cannot have it both ways! 10:30  |  Manny Goldstein 07/04/09
      23.   listening to mearsheimer and stephen walt 10:41  |  harzion 07/04/09
      24.   another tony blair politician... 10:48  |  Rosanna 07/04/09
      25.   obama will not be able to influence israel 10:48  |  harzion 07/04/09
      26.   Mr President 10:49  |  John Dyhrberg 07/04/09
      27.   #6, #19 Just listen to yourselves, fer crying out loud 10:51  |  Johnboy 07/04/09
      28.   HOW COULD IT BE POSSIBLE, OBAMA? 10:55  |  indrajaya 07/04/09
      29.   build the settlements..keep building 12:05  |  Mark 07/04/09
      30.   Lou like it or not 67 borders without Palies. 12:08  |  Aby 07/04/09
      31.   #28 When last did U fly over the area??? 12:11  |  Joe F. Moer 07/04/09
      32.   Why there is no peace 1 12:14  |  dovvod 07/04/09
      33.   Why there is no peace 2 12:15  |  dovvod 07/04/09
      34.   Destroyed City Not the Danger -- Regional EMP Strike Is 12:15  |  Ovadiah ben Avraham 07/04/09
      35.   Why there is no peace 3 12:16  |  dovvod 07/04/09
      36.   Johnboy: Answer questions 12:26  |  dovvod 07/04/09
      37.   regardless of what he is after 12:30  |  Welshman 07/04/09
      38.   # 2 yishai 12:39  |  Axel 07/04/09
      39.   Cipora Julianna Kohn 12:46  |  jennifer 07/04/09
      40.   harzion 12:49  |  jennifer 07/04/09
      41.   Dear Cipora it is in mind, all like minded, to send 12:50  |  Akram Zekaria 07/04/09
      42.   Cipora Julianna Kohn #19 12:52  |  oops 07/04/09
      43.   Cipora Julianna Kohn #20 12:56  |  Ahem. 07/04/09
      44.   Well, Harzion, it`s certainly a problem 13:06  |  Murray 07/04/09
      45.   Time for Peace 13:13  |  H 07/04/09
      46.   Sorry Ahem 33 Obama is a product of USA but not a typical America 13:19  |  Akram Zekaria 07/04/09
      47.   Is Hamas bound to the 2-state solution? 13:37  |  Hastaroth 07/04/09
      48.   to Mark Lincon in Maine 13:43  |  Hilda 07/04/09
      49.   Johnboy # 27 First Things First 13:47  |  Jeff Northridge 07/04/09
      50.   harizon, Israel and "better judgement" 14:05  |  Rod 07/04/09
      51.   #27 Johnboy 14:29  |  Daybreak 07/04/09
      52.   Lot`s Of Things Are "Unacceptable" To Obama 14:41  |  Jeff Northridge 07/04/09
      53.   Johnboy 14:51  |  Peter Williams 07/04/09
      54.   A few things to remind, Johnboy 15:22  |  Sceptic 07/04/09
      55.   Jakarta knows the size and geography of Israel 15:27  |  lily 07/04/09
      56.   Akram Zakaria on SECURITY 15:32  |  Yaakov Sullivan 07/04/09
      57.   Nechama, you should know better 15:34  |  Yaakov Sullivan 07/04/09
      58.   #35 Jeff Northridge hopes beyond hope. 15:43  |  Johnboy 07/04/09
      59.   #37 Daybreak hops onto his hobby-horse 15:51  |  Johnboy 07/04/09
      60.   #48 I beg to differ, Peter Williams 15:55  |  Johnboy 07/04/09
      61.   #54 Remind me again, Sceptic...... 15:57  |  Johnboy 07/04/09
      62.   Daybreak #51. If you want to pursue personal grievances 16:02  |  Windbreak 07/04/09
      63.   Jean Van Daem - Religious Fanaticism will lose 16:05  |  Don 07/04/09
      64.   #36 Dowod asked some questions 16:09  |  Johnboy 07/04/09
      65.   So Johnboy what do you suggest? 16:12  |  Noah 07/04/09
      66.   Sceptic needs to grow up. 16:43  |  Ibrahim 07/04/09
      67.   Noah, get your head out of the sand. 16:52  |  Ibrahim 07/04/09
      68.   Jeff Northridge never learns... 16:54  |  Ibrahim 07/04/09
      69.   Noah 65~A suggestion 16:59  |  F 07/04/09
      70.   #65 Noah asks a question 17:00  |  Johnboy 07/04/09
      71.   #30 Aby 17:08  |  Lou Medel 07/04/09
      72.   murray why do you mention "nazis" 17:19  |  harzion 07/04/09
      73.   melbourne rod "you are massively dependent on the usa" 17:22  |  harzion 07/04/09
      74.   melbourne rod and leverage 17:25  |  harzion 07/04/09
      75.   Aluf Benn`s Imagination 17:27  |  Joshua 07/04/09
      76.   johnboy obama cannot push israel 17:30  |  harzion 07/04/09
      77.   Nothing would please me better, Johnboy 17:31  |  Sceptic 07/04/09
      78.   Unfortunately, Ibrahim, it is not about me 17:40  |  Sceptic 07/04/09
      79.   Joe F. Moer 17:44  |  Jasper 07/04/09
      80.   What the palestinians want 17:44  |  Noah 07/04/09
      81.   Ibrahin Hello and you forgot the most important quote 17:52  |  Labhras 07/04/09
      82.   johnboy and the west bank 18:00  |  harzion 07/04/09
      83.   Noah and the Palestinian polls 80 18:01  |  Ahem. 07/04/09
      84.   johnboy obama will not be able to decide the israel borders 18:04  |  harzion 07/04/09
      85.   johnboy and israel`s security concerns 18:12  |  harzion 07/04/09
      86.   Johnboy # 58 I`ll Be Happy To Remind Obama 18:19  |  Jeff Northridge 07/04/09
      87.   Peter Williams #53 and Cipora 18:20  |  Richelle 07/04/09
      88.   Peter Williams #53 and Cipora 18:22  |  Richelle 07/04/09
      89.   A good reason for mentioning Nazis 18:24  |  Murray 07/04/09
      90.   murray bringing up the nazis is a confirmation 18:37  |  harzion 07/04/09
      91.   murray israel has resisted pressure from america before 18:40  |  harzion 07/04/09
      92.   murray and the "mind of obama" 18:43  |  harzion 07/04/09
      93.   Israel not bound to Annapolis Accords? Reneging? What`s new? 18:47  |  Lou Medel 07/04/09
      94.   murray above all obama will sek reelection 18:49  |  harzion 07/04/09
      95.   johnboy were israelis sure the palestinians 19:02  |  harzion 07/04/09
      96.   #94 Harzion 19:11  |  Lou Medel 07/04/09
      97.   Two State 19:18  |  NCDixon 07/04/09
      98.   2 1/2 Months In, Obama Is Firm - 4 More years To Come. 19:22  |  chet 07/04/09
      99.   no medal for lou 19:30  |  harzion 07/04/09
      100.   lou medel "sick to death with your inhuman policies" 19:33  |  harzion 07/04/09
      101.   # 73 harzion 19:53  |  Axel 07/04/09
      102.   48 Hilda - From Indian Country 20:08  |  Mark of Lewiston 07/04/09
      103.   What to do with such a burden? 20:20  |  John 07/04/09
      104.   Sceptic, fhankfully it isn`t about you... 20:25  |  Ibrahim 07/04/09
      105.   Security of the World 20:38  |  John 07/04/09
      106.   The problem, Ibrahim, is in all or nothing policy 21:55  |  Sceptic 07/04/09
      107.   Obama will learn lesson from Arabs as Bill Clinton Did 21:59  |  Baruch Gold 07/04/09
      108.   obama:Israel is not bound by anything except the Word of God;the 22:23  |  glenna 07/04/09
      109.   Palestinian Land? 22:30  |  John 07/04/09
      110.   Land Rights 22:35  |  Carole 07/04/09
      111.   # 2 NO, jean van daem; it`s NO "israeli" leader HAD the right(3rd 22:40  |  eric 07/04/09
      112.   #96..Lou Medel 23:07  |  Nemesis 07/04/09
      113.   Yishai #3 23:22  |  Esther 07/04/09
      114.   Richelle 00:09  |  Peter Williams 08/04/09
      115.   Change in Government really doesn`t change goals... 00:23  |  Smadar 08/04/09
      116.   Axel 01:08  |  RonH 08/04/09
      117.   #86 Ahem, Jeff 02:31  |  Johnboy 08/04/09
      118.   60 yrs and no Palestinian state by Arabs 02:37  |  Dean Blake 08/04/09
      119.   #85 Thanks for the laugh, harzion 02:43  |  Johnboy 08/04/09
      120.   Cipora # 19 Bowing is not submision or subservience 04:03  |  American in NY 08/04/09
      121.   What two countries have a `backbone`? 04:06  |  John Allen 08/04/09
      122.   oops # 42 Thanks for the laugh !!! 04:06  |  American in NY 08/04/09
      123.   #77 I`ll repeat my request, Sceptic 05:01  |  Johnboy 08/04/09
      124.   American in NY I would agree with you... but 05:15  |  Peter Williams 08/04/09
      125.   #61 JOHNBOY 05:25  |  FLUFFY 08/04/09
      126.   #110..American(?) in NY 05:32  |  Malone 08/04/09
      127.   Hey Akram, ANY has you figured to a T 05:38  |  ballistic 08/04/09
      128.   Say John Allen at #111 05:40  |  ballistic 08/04/09
      129.   Johnyboy Jordan and the palestineans 06:10  |  arik 08/04/09
      130.   ballistic 06:20  |  Malone 08/04/09
      131.   #110, ANY 06:47  |  Cipora Julianna Kohn 08/04/09
      132.   #112, ANY 06:50  |  Cipora Julianna Kohn 08/04/09
      133.   #43, Ahem, you are leaving out some imperial history 07:02  |  Cipora Julianna Kohn 08/04/09
      134.   #116 And I`ll remind you, FLUFFY 07:09  |  Johnboy 08/04/09
      135.   #121 arik 07:16  |  Johnboy 08/04/09
      136.   No back door post-facto legitimacy for Annapolis 08:06  |  Ilan 08/04/09
      137.   to Yaakov Sullivan 54- You are fanatically missing the issue ! 08:14  |  Akram Zekaria 08/04/09
      138.   Obama and the Jews 08:45  |  Ralph 08/04/09
      139.   two-state solution 08:47  |  Ralph 08/04/09
      140.   Cipora typos and bowing 15:34  |  American in NY 08/04/09
      141.   The right and the two state solution 17:22  |  WHG 08/04/09
      142.   Obama way 21:15  |  Suzy 08/04/09
      143.   The 3 state solution 21:41  |  Michael 08/04/09
      144.   Annapolis Joint Declaration "under the performance-based road map 22:36  |  OMAR 08/04/09
      145.   Annapolis Joint Declaration "under the performance-based road map 22:36  |  OMAR 08/04/09
      146.   Obama is placing a bandaid which will open bigger wound 00:57  |  ks 09/04/09
      147.   Akram Zekaria # 6 same President Obama "... to secure & defend ? 03:24  |  American in NY 09/04/09
      148.   WE DON`T NEGOTIATE WITH TERRORISTS. 21:20  |  Petra 09/04/09
      149.   OMAR ATLANTIC BEACH BINGO! 21:22  |  Petra 09/04/09
      150.   Are pals bound to anything? 07:36  |  Julio 10/04/09
      151.   a breath of fresh air 21:00  |  Earthling 22/04/09
     Read & React
    WATCH: Ahmadinejad entourage brands Elie Wiesel 'Zio-Nazi'
    Responses: 101
    Lieberman: U.S. to accept any Israeli policy decision
    Responses: 89
    U.K. to review arms exports to Israel in wake of Gaza war
    Responses: 107
    Gideon Levy: Even if Netanyahu backs Palestinian statehood, occupation to flourish
    Responses: 38


    More Headlines
    19:53 Barak: Gaza probe shows IDF among world's most moral armies
    20:40 Poll: Most Palestinians, Israelis want two-state solution
    20:30 Pope accepts keffiyah as gift from Palestinian worshippers
    21:20 Suleiman meets Lieberman, despite threats of boycott
    19:57 Clinton: U.S. won't deal with Hamas until it accepts our terms
    14:27 Lieberman: Right of return makes Arab plan unacceptable
    20:28 Hamas denies killing, maiming dozens of opponents in Gaza
    18:59 Kuwait politician who called for Israel ties quits parliament race
    22:31 WATCH: Daily news round-up from Israel
    09:12 Report: Olmert, Livni may face war crimes charges in Norway
    17:37 Poll: More than 75% of Jewish Israelis want to join EU
    21:10 'Defamation of religion laws undermine Western principles,' says Mohammed cartoon editor
    19:42 Iran slams UN response to Ahmadinejad's anti-Israel remarks
    15:58 Paul Reiser is mad about Israel
    16:29 First Hamas-licensed bank opens in Gaza
    13:44 Why did 150,000 Israelis join a worthless Facebook group?
    Previous Editions
    Special Offers
    Advertisement
    Spring Specials-Dan Hotels
    Jerusalem from 179$. Tel-Aviv from 223$. Herzliya from 336$
    The Meier on Rothschild Tower
    Masterpiece Residence in the Heart of Tel Aviv
    Dead Sea Skin Care
    Quality cosmetics from the Dead Sea. Coupon code HAARETZ for 12% off!
    Camp Kimama Israel 2009
    The best place for your children this summer
    Eldan Rent a Car
    Israel's leading car rental company offers you a 20% discount on online reservations
    Jewish Singles Personal Ads
    Find the love of your life on JDate.com
    Junkyard
    Junk a car - get free towing nationwide and a tax-deductible receipt
    Home | TV | Print Edition | Diplomacy | Opinion | Arts & Leisure | Sports | Jewish World | | Israel 2009 election results
    Site rules | Makom: Engaging on Israel | Search engine marketing
    Haaretz.com, the online edition of Haaretz Newspaper in Israel, offers real-time breaking news, opinions and analysis from Israel and the Middle East. Haaretz.com provides extensive and in-depth coverage of Israel, the Jewish World and the Middle East, including defense, diplomacy, the Arab-Israeli conflict, the peace process, Israeli politics, Jerusalem affairs, international relations, Iran, Iraq, Syria, Lebanon, the Palestinian Authority, the West Bank and the Gaza Strip, the Israeli business world and Jewish life in Israel and the Diaspora.
    © Copyright  Haaretz. All rights reserved