Obama's chief of staff tells J Street conference that the Israeli occupation of Palestine must end.

There can be no doubt that White House Chief of Staff, Denis McDonough, was speaking directly for his boss, President Obama, in his address to a conference sponsored by J Street, the liberal, pro-Israel, pro-peace organization.

He spoke plainly and directly, saying that “an occupation that has lasted for almost 50 years must end, and the Palestinian people must have the right to live in and govern themselves in their own sovereign state.”

Citing the pre-election comments that Netantyahu made to win votes, and then tried to undo after the election, McDonough, said:

“We cannot simply pretend that those comments were never made, or that they don’t raise questions about the prime minister’s commitment to achieving peace through direct negotiations. . . . 

“Palestinian children deserve the same right to be free in their own land as Israeli children in their land. A two-state solution will finally bring Israelis the security and normalcy to which they are entitled, and Palestinians the sovereignty and dignity they deserve. . . .  

“The borders of Israel and an independent Palestine should be based on the 1967 lines with mutually agreed swaps. Each state needs secure and recognized borders, and there must be robust provisions that safeguard Israel’s security. . . . "

Saying that the U. S. shares Israel's concern about security and is committed to working out a plan to ensure it and to keeping Israel strong militarily, he then added:

“Nothing would do more to improve Israel’s security or its relations with its neighbors than to bring about a sovereign and contiguous Palestinian state alongside a secure, democratic, Jewish Israel.”

McDonough was preaching to the choir in this J Street, pro-peace gathering --  and he had them on their feet cheering.   So it was a bold speech to a friendly audience.   

But it will reverberate throughout the Middle East and signal a new phase in the relationship between the United States and Israel.    Obama has deftly set it up, telling Netanyahu that we don't buy his double-speak.   Our priority is still a peaceful two-state solution.  The next move is up to Netanyahu.

Ralph