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Fmr. UN Ambassador John Bolton on why the president’s move toward a two-state solution between Israel and Palestine is implicitly threatening to Isr...
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-- it becomes a foreign policy Thomas Jefferson once said this.
Commerce and honest French ships with all nations entangling alliances would not.
Certainly among many Americans many -- -- -- alliances the United States -- relationship with Israel's among the more controversial.
The president last week -- the world when he said that peace in the Middle East hinges on Israel ceding territory to the Palestinians.
And reverting to its 1967 borders here now on this bombshell.
Former US ambassador to the United Nations John Bolton that we.
Surprised when he said this -- personal welcome here it's always a pleasure glad to be here thank you we -- surprised when he senator why why would he say something as.
Controversial at this as -- as that at a moment like this well.
What he said was nothing new he has used this before.
Going back as far as I can tell -- September 2009.
Speech to the general assembly where he talked about ending.
The occupation that began in 1967 meaning on the west bank and Gaza -- this is a formulation.
And anti Israel formulations used before but I think you're quite right the timing this time.
Made a big difference just as prime minister Netanyahu is about to arrive in the united state what would the consequences be -- Israel and militarily and politically if somehow the -- more to get his wish.
Well it would be disastrous you know they these borders didn't exist beginning in 1967 existed beginning in 1949 they are.
The 1949.
Armistice line.
Drawn at the end of the first Arab Israeli conflict after Israel declared its independence so these lines have no political significance or simply where the military forces stopped.
And I -- Netanyahu had a very good.
Description of that he said these are not lines for peace these are lines for war because it provoked war in 67 and then again in 73 there indefensible borders.
And they don't address the fundamental question.
Who is on the other side of those -- and do they acknowledge Israel's right to exit -- to the Palestinians have the right to elect whoever they want as their government.
What they can elect whoever they want that doesn't mean Israel has to deal with that were recognize it is the state were treated as an equal and negotiation.
What will Israel treat the Palestinian people as an -- or stated differently.
It is the prevailing attitude amongst and Israeli policy makers to states or one state well it's the two state solution honestly I think the Palestinians had been victimized.
For many decades but not by the Israelis by other Arabs who have used them as the tip of the spear against Israel but have not back them up.
Well should Benjamin Netanyahu his political party and again Israeli policy makers.
Care what the present -- United States as why shouldn't Israel be able to determine its own future its own fortunes in its own borders.
Without a president's 3000 miles away telling them what to do.
Well it's a dilemma for Israel because the United States is its staunchest ally in some cases really it's only an ally you don't want to unnecessarily push them off I think we're Netanyahu.
Have made a mistake before but not when he confronted the president last Friday in the Oval Office.
Was underestimating.
The extent of support for Israel.
Among the American body politic and in congress Obama's anti Israel the American people are pro Israel what does this statement that the president made and the timing I think prime minister Netanyahu was literally over the Atlantic and -- in a plane coming here.
Do for domestic Israeli politics back home.
Look Netanyahu is not popular -- the Democratic Party in the United States he didn't have a good relationship with President Clinton in the ninety's he obviously has a bad relationship with.
Obama today and I think the president was trying to squeeze Israel generally and squeezed Netanyahu in particular I think as it turned -- it has backfired on -- switching -- are we about to bring large numbers of troops home from Afghanistan and should -- -- -- bin -- -- I think the president will announce a major troop withdrawal he foreshadowed this in December of 2009 when he announced the surge in Afghanistan to begin with whether it's one combat brigade -- not or more I don't know but I think it will be -- I don't think though this is the right time to do and I think getting bin Laden was a great victory we've got him on the -- we should keep the pressure on every once -- -- while it seems that the big news -- in presidential politics is who's not running rather than.
Who is running -- enough to list the names you know them as well as side.
He's John Bolton still considering.
Running for the Republican nomination for president of the United States you sit here today I am still considering -- I think the announcement of some of the candidates who are now not gonna run.
Only demonstrates how important it is to get somebody in -- viable.
All right.
Former ambassador to the United Nations John -- it's a pleasure we don't always agree -- what -- -- thank you -- thanks for joining as big as big government.
