White House Chief of Staff Denis McDonough bluntly told a liberal pro-Israel lobby group yesterday “an occupation that has lasted for almost 50 years must end.”
He added, “President Obama still firmly believes what he said in Jerusalem two years ago — that peace is necessary, just and possible. Peace is necessary because it is the only way to ensure that a secure state of Israel is both Jewish and democratic. Israel cannot maintain military control of another people indefinitely. That’s the truth.”
It’s not the first time the word “occupation” has been used by an Obama official. In fact, in 2013, President Obama used it himself.
“The Palestinian people deserve an end to occupation and the daily indignities that come with it,” Obama said in Ramallah during a joint appearance with Palestinian Authority President Mahmoud Abbas.
McDonough’s remarks continued the White House’s pushback against Netanyahu’s comments before his re-election that a two-state solution was off the table. Netanyahu has since walked back the remarks.
“Over the course of President Obama’s administration,” McDonough said, “most recently with the tireless efforts of Secretary Kerry, the United States has expended tremendous energy in pursuit of this goal. That is why the prime minister’s comments on the eve of the election — in which he first intimated and then made very clear in response to a follow-up question that a Palestinian state will not be established while he is prime minister — were so troubling.”
McDonough said the Obama administration will continue to oppose Israeli settlement expansion because “it undermines the prospects for peace.”
Obama needs to shut up and take care of US, which he is doing a dang poor job of.
Are you $#%&!@*ing serious? I STAND WITH ISRAEL!
HA!The land has belonged to the Jews for over 4000 years. Occupation my $#%&!@*. ( excuse me, I got carried away.)
Agree
Agree, Ted
Were….King of Jordan years ago offered the Palestinian leaders land within Jordan. The Palestinian leaders refused and said, we will only accept the land currently occupied by Israel until Israel ceases to exist! That is the Facts!
they can go to Blazes
tell odumb$#%&!@* to go to hell,
Our dictator is an embarr$#%&!@*ing fool who needs to shut his mouth.
I’ll tell him to stick it were the sun doesn’t shine.