Sunday, May 22, 2011

Obama Plays to Crowd at AIPAC Policy Conference

President Obama sought to comfort the concerned Israeli lobby today, telling AIPAC members that his position on the 1967 borders was not groundbreaking and represents a starting point in negotiations leading to the future state of Palestine.

"If there is a controversy, then, it’s not based in substance," Obama said speaking of his policy address a few days ago on the the Middle East. "What I did on Thursday was to say publicly what has long been acknowledged privately."

Obama avoided commenting on his prickly relationship with right wing Israeli leader Benjamin Netanyahu, but he candidly warned that sweeping movements throughout Arabia and demographic realities on the ground in Israel.

"The world is moving too fast. The extraordinary challenges facing Israel would only grow. Delay will undermine Israel’s security and the peace that the Israeli people deserve," cautioned Obama, after he  reaffirmed the United States' strong relationship with Israel and publicly recognized the security needs of the Jewish state.

"I believe that the current situation in the Middle East does not allow for procrastination,"  he said.

A YouTube video of the President's speech to AIPAC:

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