J Street Calls For A Borders and Security Approach From The Obama Administration

December 8, 2010

As the Obama Administration rethinks its approach to advancing Israeli-Palestinian peace, the urgency of the moment demands a new, bolder, more assertive approach to achieve two states before time runs out.

There is now a real opportunity to make a welcome course correction after nearly two years without serious progress. It is time for a bolder, more assertive “Borders and Security First” approach aimed at fulfilling President Obama’s campaign promise of achieving a two-state solution.

The world knows the outlines of the solution. So it is time for the United States – with broad international support – to put forward a real proposal for ending the conflict in which the parties are asked to give yes-or-no answers.

The proposal should make clear that the border will be based on the 1967 lines, creating a Palestinian state on the equivalent of 100 percent of the land beyond the 1967 Green Line with one-to-one, agreed-upon land swaps.  It must also meet the full range of Israeli security needs in the face of the threats it faces.