Sen. Dems Likely to Counter Obama on Mideast

President Barack Obama isn’t making many allies in Washington with his call for Israeli-Palestinian negotiations to be based on pre-1967 borders. Senate Democrats will likely vote for a resolution opposing that stance, The Hill reports.

Like Republicans, Democrats are worried that Obama’s proposal will hurt our relationship with Israel, given its strong rejection of the idea. They are worried about turning off Jewish voters as well.

Several senators have said publicly that Obama made a mistake. “The place where negotiating will happen must be the negotiating table — and nowhere else,” said Senate Majority Leader Harry Reid.

“Those negotiations will not happen — and their terms will not be set — through speeches, or in the streets, or in the media. No one should set premature parameters about borders.”

Connecticut Sen. Joe Lieberman, an Independent who caucuses with Democrats, is cooperating with Sen. Orrin Hatch, R-Utah, on a resolution stating that the 1967 Israeli-Palestinian borders are “indefensible” and contrary to U.S. security interests.