Israel's prime minister gave a cool reception to US President Barack Obama's Mideast
policy speech, which was delivered yesterday and called for the 1967 Israeli borders
to be the basis of any peace agreement. Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu said a
complete withdrawal from the West Bank would leave Israel vulnerable to attack. His
remarks came just before he departed for Washington, where he was scheduled to be
meeting with President Obama on Friday.
One hopes this meeting…will advance
the goal that is on everyone’s mind. Namely, a peace treaty between Israel and Palestine,
with its promise of security and prosperity to both sides, and to be complimented
and made fully possible legally by a distinct resolution of the question of Jerusalem
along the lines advocated consistently by the Holy See, namely an internationally
guaranteed special stature for Jerusalem,” said Middle East expert Father David-Maria
Jaeger, OFM.
“One hopes these few days will help advance this goal because,
as everyone has now seen, in the Middle East the ground is shifting and the status
quo is not an option,” he told Vatican Radio.
Listen to the full interview
by Charles Collins with Father David-Maria Jaeger, OFM: