Bible In The News

Obama's recent policy speech on the Israeli Palestinian Arab conflict and Israeli Prime Minister Netanyahu's subsequent comments, after their private meeting in the Whitehouse, have highlighted a growing rift between the two administrations. Welcome to the Bible in the News, this is David Billington with you. Obama has been moving closer to the European viewpoint, while Netanyahu appears to be more or less standing his ground. Obama's call for Israel to withdrawal to the 67 borders are those borders which the well known Israel diplomat, Abba Eban called the "Auschwitz lines", because they left Israel in such a strategically vulnerable position.. Israel is in a tough position. They are surrounded by counties that have been traditionally hostile; their peace treaties with Egypt and possibly Jordan, could be jeopardized by the current turmoil in the Arab world. The Economist magazine, which would have a similar worldview as Obama and his Democratic party, summarized Obama's speech as follows: