President Barack Obama has reiterated his call for the 1967 borders to form the basis for a peace deal between Israel and the Palestinians.
Speaking to the main pro-Israel lobby (AIPAC) in Washington, Obama said that "the borders of Israel and Palestine should be based on the 1967 lines with mutually agreed swaps, so that secure and recognized borders are established for both states."
"A genuine peace is the only path that will ultimately provide for a peaceful Palestine as the homeland of Palestinian people and a Jewish state of Israel as the homeland of the Jewish people," Obama said.
After meeting on May 20 with Obama at the White House in Washington, Israeli Prime Minister Binyamin Netanyahu rejected Obama's call for Israel to base future negotiations on a Palestinian state on territorial lines in place before Israel captured the West Bank, East Jerusalem, and the Gaza Strip in the 1967 Arab-Israeli war.
Netanyahu described those territorial lines as "indefensible" for present-day Israel, saying Middle East peace cannot be "based on illusions."
However, Obama said on May 22 his position had been "misrepresented" and ignored his call for land swaps.
Obama is to depart later for Ireland. He will also visit England, France, and Poland this week.
compiled from agency reports
Speaking to the main pro-Israel lobby (AIPAC) in Washington, Obama said that "the borders of Israel and Palestine should be based on the 1967 lines with mutually agreed swaps, so that secure and recognized borders are established for both states."
"A genuine peace is the only path that will ultimately provide for a peaceful Palestine as the homeland of Palestinian people and a Jewish state of Israel as the homeland of the Jewish people," Obama said.
After meeting on May 20 with Obama at the White House in Washington, Israeli Prime Minister Binyamin Netanyahu rejected Obama's call for Israel to base future negotiations on a Palestinian state on territorial lines in place before Israel captured the West Bank, East Jerusalem, and the Gaza Strip in the 1967 Arab-Israeli war.
Netanyahu described those territorial lines as "indefensible" for present-day Israel, saying Middle East peace cannot be "based on illusions."
However, Obama said on May 22 his position had been "misrepresented" and ignored his call for land swaps.
Obama is to depart later for Ireland. He will also visit England, France, and Poland this week.
compiled from agency reports
