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U.S. and Israel: Partners for Peace

(Boston Globe) David Harris - Much attention has focused on the differences that reportedly exist between the U.S. and Israel. Of course, every country has its national interests, and no two sets of national interests are completely identical. But what is far more important is the convergent thinking between President Obama and Prime Minister Netanyahu on a number of key issues. The recent meetings and speeches reveal once again U.S.-Israeli agreement on the pressing threat posed by Iran. Both countries agree that the recent "reconciliation" agreement between Fatah and Hamas constitutes a major new problem. Hamas is not a partner for peace. It is a terrorist group, recognized as such by the U.S. and EU. Obama and Netanyahu share the belief that peace between Israel and the Palestinians can only come about through direct talks between the parties. It cannot result from a Palestinian campaign to seek a unilateral declaration of independence with UN General Assembly support. The U.S. and Israel are in full accord that the outcome of any peace process should be two states for two peoples - Israel as the homeland for the Jewish people, and a "non-militarized," to use Obama's language, Palestine as the homeland of the Palestinian people. Both sides agree that the final border between Israel and Palestine must be negotiated, not unilaterally declared. Moreover, as Obama said on Sunday, the mutually agreed boundary will have to take into account realities on the ground, including demographic changes and Israel's compelling security needs in a shrunken state. More than anything else, the deep ties that unite the U.S. and Israel, again on display in recent days, are what's really newsworthy. The writer is executive director of the American Jewish Committee.
2011-05-26 00:00:00
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