Thursday, May 19, 2011

Watch President Obama's Full Speech on Mideast Policy

Israel Upset About Obama Speech

Netanyahu Calls Palestinian State Based on 1967 Borders "Indefensible"

Israeli Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu swiftly rejected President Obama's call Thursday for Israel to pull back to the borders that existed before the 1967 Six-Day War, calling those lines militarily "indefensible."

Obama, in a sweeping address tackling the uprisings in the Middle East and the stalled peace process, stunned Washington and Jerusalem by endorsing Palestinians' demand for their own state based on the pre-1967 borders. The break with longstanding U.S. policy appeared to immediately aggravate the Israelis, who want the borders of any future Palestinian state determined through negotiations.

In a statement released late Thursday, Netanyahu said such a withdrawal would jeopardize Israel's security and leave major West Bank settlements outside Israeli borders.

"Israel appreciates President Obama's commitment to peace," the statement said. "Israel believes that for peace to endure between Israelis and Palestinians, the viability of a Palestinian state cannot come at the expense of the viability of the one and only Jewish state. That is why Prime Minister Netanyahu expects to hear a reaffirmation from President Obama of U.S. commitments made to Israel in 2004. ... Among other things, those commitments relate to Israel not having to withdraw to the 1967 lines."

The U.S. had previously endorsed the concept of a Palestinian state, but not the demand for permanent pre-1967 borders, with mutually agreed land swaps. The declaration comes ahead of a meeting in Washington between Obama and Netanyahu.

Read more: http://www.foxnews.com/politics/2011/05/19/obamas-mideast-speech-offers-punishment-praise/#ixzz1Mpl9NkXJ

Breaking Headline News-May 19th 2011


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SHOCKING: Obama wants "Palestinian State" to Be Based on "1967 Borders "

President Obama, in a sweeping address tackling the uprisings in the Middle East and the stalled peace process, on Thursday endorsed Palestinians' demand for their own state based on the borders that existed before the 1967 Middle East war.

The break with longstanding U.S. policy is likely to aggravate the Israelis, who want the borders of any future Palestinian state determined through negotiations. The declaration comes ahead of a meeting in Washington between Obama and visiting Israeli Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu.

"The status quo is unsustainable," Obama said. "A lasting peace will involve two states for two peoples."

Though the president endorsed the call for a Palestinian state with permanent pre-1967 borders, including mutually agreed land swaps, the president sought to assure that the United States' commitment to Israeli security is "unshakable." He said Israeli's right to defend itself will remain paramount, and suggested the recent unity agreement between Fatah and Hamas, which the U.S. deems a terrorist group, is problematic for negotiations. He also publicly rejected attempts by the Palestinians to gain recognition for their own state before the United Nations.

The border announcement, which came toward the end of the president's 50-minute speech, was arguably the most significant statement in an address otherwise devoted to underscoring U.S. support for the uprisings in the Middle East and North Africa. Speaking at the State Department, the president sought Thursday to squarely align the U.S. with the ambitions of protesters pushing for economic and political reform, while warning heads of state who resist this wave that the U.S. is losing patience.

Obama, in his strongest words to date, offered an ultimatum to Syrian President Bashar Assad. "President Assad now has a choice. He can lead that transition or get out of the way," Obama said.

He said Assad's regime, which has killed hundreds in an effort to quell the unrest in Syria, must stop shooting and arresting its people.

Obama also called Al Qaeda and Usama bin Laden, who was killed by U.S. forces in Pakistan, a "dead end," suggesting the push for reform will represent the future of the region. He sought to connect the death of bin Laden to the wave of protests, arguing that anti-western rhetoric and attacks are losing their audience. "The slaughter of innocents did not answer their cry for a better life," he said.

Rather, Obama said: "A new generation has emerged and their voices tell us that change cannot be denied."

Parents In Utah Community Outraged Over Pornographic Images On Car

Art or pornography? That's the question about what's painted on a car parked in one Utah neighborhood.

One mom says the car, covered in exotic art, is often parked in sight of a playground where kids play.

The maroon PT Cruiser is adorned with several paintings including an image of a naked man and woman in a passionate embrace.

"When you're rolling around town and in the public's eye you know, it shouldn't be open like that," said Cindy Adams.

Adams is mom of four young kids and worries not only about her own children but about other kids as well.

"I worry about young teenagers who just got their license, and stopped at a red light, and that's their view they get to look at while they're waiting for the light," she said.

2News took Cindy's concerns to the South Jordan Police Department who promised to investigate.

Utah does have an indecent public display law which states someone may violate the statute if images are displayed where a person under the age of 18 can see it and if the image has nudity, partial nudity or sexual acts.

Cindy says she's not a prude and that pictures like the ones on the car wouldn't be a problem if they were inside a house, museum or kept where kids couldn't see them.
Read More from Connect 2 Utah

4 Sets Of Twins To Graduate From Same High School

The graduating class at Blue Valley Northwest High School will include four sets of twins.KMBC introduced the twins -- Courtney and Conner Ahnen, Robert and John Bagarozy, Alison and Kristen Anderson and Michael and Nick Pappas -- to viewers 12 years ago when they entered kindergarten. Since that time, so much has changed."I'm excited to get to experience it with (Conner) because we've been through a lot, but there's a lot that I want to get to with her after high school," said Courtney Ahnen.Robert and John Bargarozy were the only identical twins in the group. Today their favorite color attire is deliberate."I wear green shoes, and that's how people in the hallway -- instead of looking at my face and recognizing who I am -- they have to look at my feet and be like, 'OK, this one's John,'" said John Bagarozy.KMBC's Cliff Judy reported that few of the twins do the same extra-curricular activities, and some even have separate groups of friends."I'd say I'm the more athletic one. I did the sports, and she was more of like, girly," said Alison Anderson about her twin, Kristen.The Anderson twins told Judy that they might study interior design after high school.Michael and Nick Pappas said they are as ready as anyone for Saturday's graduation."Since kindergarten, we've all been together. So I guess we've expected to see all of each other walk across (the stage,) said Michael Pappas."Do you still like having a twin?" Judy asked."Yes, I do. You always have someone to hang out with," Robert Bagarozy said.Originally, when KMBC reported on the twins, there were five sets of twins. Two boys have since moved.The Blue Valley Northwest twins aren't exactly going their separate ways. Seven of the eight will attend Kansas State University in the fall.

Supreme Court Refuses To Hear Atheist Argument Against "So Help Me God" During Presidential Oath

WASHINGTON — The Supreme Court is brushing aside an atheist’s challenge to religion in government, refusing to hear a complaint about President Barack Obama adding “so help me God” to his inaugural oath of office.

The high court on Monday refused to hear an appeal from Michael Newdow, who argued that government references to God are unconstitutional and infringe on his religious beliefs.

Many presidents have added “so help me God” to the oath.

Newdow sued to keep Obama from doing so and lost. He wanted overturned an appeals court’s ruling saying it would be useless to ban Chief Justice John Roberts from prompting Obama to say “so help me God” because the president could have easily found someone else to administer the oath.

Read More From The Washington Post

ABC Changes Title Of New TV Series "Good Christian B*tches" To "Good Christian Belles"

The network just announced its fall TV line-up and lo and behold, the title of the upcoming series "Good Christian Bitches" has been changed. New title: "Good Christian Belles."

The Parents Television Council had declared the original title "offensive" and urged its members to bombard ABC with complaints.

"Good Christian Belles" hits the air in early 2012. It's based on the book "Good Christian Bitches" by Kim Gatlin. We reached Gatlin on her cell phone today, and she told us she's disappointed ABC changed the name, but "kinda not surprised."

She said her Bible study group didn't like the word "bitches" in the title and neither did her mother. (By the way, she's also working on a new book she'll be calling "Good Christian Bastards.")

ABC also dropped the "B" word from another series it greenlit: "Don't Trust the Bitch in Apartment 23" has been trimmed to "The Apartment."

The network tells us the earlier names were just "working titles."

Parents Television Council President Tim Winter tells us he's glad ABC changed the names, but he still isn't happy with "Good Christian Belles."

He says ABC shouldn't be singling out the Christian faith and that it would never consider titling a series, for example, "Good Muslim Belles" or "Good Jewish Belles."

Read More from Marquee Blogs