The Conservative talking points on President Obama's mideast peace proposal

U.S. President Barack Obama sketched out some new and, apparently, controversial proposals Thursday for a new framework for mideast peace talks involving Israel and Palestine. Here's the chief controversial bit in Obama's speech:

The United States believes that negotiations should result in two states, with permanent Palestinian borders with Israel, Jordan, and Egypt, and permanent Israeli borders with Palestine.  We believe the borders of Israel and Palestine should be based on the 1967 lines with mutually agreed swaps, so that secure and recognized borders are established for both states.  The Palestinian people must have the right to govern themselves, and reach their full potential, in a sovereign and contiguous state.

Today, Prime Minister Stephen Harper's communications director, Dimitri Soudas, and other government officials were asked about their response to this idea of using the 1967 border as a basis for peace talks and, by and large, they avoided any comment on it, saying only that Canada supports a negotiated two-state solution and that it was up to the negotiating parties as to any starting frameworks.

The PMO also issued the following talking points to its MPs in case any of them get asked about it. Here, courtesy of the PMO Info-Alert-Bot, are those TPs:

Position on Israel-Palestine Borders

Yesterday, President Obama outlined his position on peace in the Middle East. The Minister of Foreign Affairs is the spokesperson on this matter.

• Canada is committed to a comprehensive, just and lasting peace in the Middle East, whereby two states live side by side in peace and security.

• Canada supports a negotiated solution involving both Israel and the Palestinian authority.

• Canada notes President Obama’s speech with interest.

• Prime Minister Harper looks forward to joining G8 leaders for discussions on the current situation in the Middle East and North Africa next week in Deauville.