Top Obama adviser lambastes Israel over Palestinian policies

President Barack Obama’s top Middle East aide launched a blistering attack on Israeli foreign policy last night in Tel Aviv — in a speech that he happened to deliver just as Hamas was targeting the city and points even further north.

Philip Gordon, a special assistant to Obama and the White House coordinator for the Middle East, appealed to Israeli and Palestinian leaders to make the compromises needed to reach a permanent peace agreement. Jerusalem “should not take for granted the opportunity to negotiate” such a treaty with Palestinian Authority President Mahmoud Abbas, who has proven to be a reliable partner, Gordon said.

“Israel confronts an undeniable reality: It cannot maintain military control of another people indefinitely. Doing so is not only wrong but a recipe for resentment and recurring instability,” Gordon said. “It will embolden extremists on both sides, tear at Israel’s democratic fabric and feed mutual dehumanization.”

He promised: “The United States will always have Israel’s back. That’s why we fight for it every day at the United Nations. But as Israel’s greatest friend and strongest defender, Washington should be allowed to ask some fundamental questions.

Specifically, Gordon went on: “How will Israel remain democratic and Jewish if it attempts to govern the millions of Palestinian Arabs who live in the West Bank? How will it have peace if it’s unwilling to delineate a border, end the occupation and allow for Palestinian sovereignty, security and dignity? How will we prevent other states from supporting Palestinian efforts in international bodies, if Israel is not seen as committed to peace?”

A full report of Gordon’s appearance is here.

— Raphael Ahren