Obama Says Chance for Israel-Palestine Solution “Passing By”
Barack Obama gives his last press conference as president.
Washington, 20 Rabiul Akhir 1438/19 January 2017 (MINA) – In his final press conference as President yesterday, Barack Obama issued a stern warning to both Israelis and Palestinians that the chances for a two-state solution could soon fade if serious changes are not made by both parties, according to a report from sigmalive.com.
With President-elect Donald Trump set to take office in two days, Obama directed remarks at positions he’s vowed to enact, referring to the region’s “explosive” volatility.
Obama also recommended caution [to Trump] before making any rash policy shifts — an apparent reference to the President-elect’s controversial plan to relocate the US Embassy from Tel Aviv to Jerusalem.
Defending his decision to abstain on a UN Security Council resolution that condemned Israeli settlements as illegal and an obstacle to peace, the President said he intended to send “a wake-up call” that the opportunity to reach a two-state outcome “may be passing.”
“Solution impossible”
“The goal of advancing the resolution was to simply say that the settlements are creating a reality on the ground that increasingly will make a two-state solution impossible,” affirmed Obama.
Without the two sides finding a way to disentangle themselves, Obama insisted Israel’s “Jewish and democratic character is at risk and the situation for Palestinians will remain unbearable.”
Obama added: “I don’t see how this issue gets resolved in a way that maintains Israel as both Jewish and a democracy, because if you do not have two states, then in some form or fashion you are extending an occupation.
“Functionally, you end up having one state in which millions of people are disenfranchised and operate as second-class occupants, or residents. You can’t even call them citizens necessarily.”
“Rightward drift”
Citing a “rightward drift” in Israeli politics in recent years and the “weakening” of Palestinian Authority President Mahmoud Abbas’s “ability to move and take risks on behalf of peace,” Obama said he wanted to make a major statement delineating the long-term dangers at stake.
The President continued: “Israeli voters and Palestinians need to understand that this moment may be passing,” suggesting that “if current trends go unabated, the ultimate consequence will be a one-state reality.” (T/RS05/RS01)
Mi’raj Islamic News Agency (MINA)
