Obama defends endorsement of 1967 borders

WASHINGTON -US President Barack Obama defended his endorsement of Israel's 1967 boundaries as the basis for a future Palestine, telling America's pro-Israel lobby that his views reflected long-standing US policy that needed to be stated clearly.

He also said on Sunday that the Jewish state will face growing isolation without "a credible peace process".

Obama tried to alleviate concerns that his administration was veering in a pro-Palestinian direction, placing his Middle East policy speech on Thursday in the context of Israel's security. He told the American Israel Public Affairs Committee that those border lines must be subject to negotiated land swaps and said these principles reflected US thinking dating to president Bill Clinton's mediation efforts.