Obamas 1967 border speech irks Netanyahu

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Obamas 1967 border speech irks Netanyahu

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Netanyahu says viability of a Palestinian state cannot come at the expense of Israel's existence.

20 May,2011 12:07 pm

Israeli Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu has rejected a call from US President Barack Obama in support of a Palestinian state based on the borders of 1967.In a speech in Washington, Obama said that he supported the Palestinians demand that their eventual state be based on borders that existed before the six-day war when Israeli forces had occupied East Jerusalem, the West Bank and Ghaza.But Netanyahu termed Obama’s speech an attack on the Israel’s sovereignty. The two leaders are due to meet in Washington.Netanyahu called Hillary Clinton and recorded his protest against Obama’s speech. “The viability of a Palestinian state cannot come at the expense of Israels existence,” Netanyahu said.Obama was advised not to mention about the occupied territories, but he rejected the idea, impressing upon the US senators that Israel was not serious in the regional peace. He said that Israel should sacrifice for the establishment of an enduring peace in the region.