Stotsky: The 1967 Lines and Israel's Defensibility - Some Hard Facts

Steven Stotsky
CAMERA Media Analysis
07 June '11

On May 19, 2011 U.S. President Obama presented his vision of a two-state solution, stating, "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." What struck many as simply a restatement of official American policy, provoked Israeli Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu to respond "Israel will not return to the indefensible lines of 1967." Some questioned the Israeli Prime Minister, recalling that Israel successfully defended itself against Arab aggression in 1948 and 1967 from those lines. But in the 44 years that have elapsed from 1967, there have been substantial changes that directly bear upon Israel's defensibility behind the lines that existed prior to the 1967 Six-Day War.

Many Saw President Obama's Statement as a Major Shift in American Policy

Before exploring these factors, it is important to identify how President Obama's statement reflects a change in American policy. Prior agreements between Israel and the United States operated on the principle that Israel would cede territory incrementally with the endpoint approaching the 1967 lines but allowing for adjustments to accommodate vital Israeli security requirements. The transfer of territory to Palestinian control was tied to the Palestinian Arabs upholding the tenets of the peace process, including ending incitement against Israel, acting against terrorists and accepting Israel's right to exist. Many interpreted President Obama's speech as reversing the order, establishing the pre-1967 lines as the default starting point of negotiations, rather than the approximate end point of the process.

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