Middle East

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15 June 2009
U.S. Welcomes Israeli Leader's Endorsement of Palestinian State

By Stephen Kaufman
Staff Writer

Washington — The United States welcomes Israeli Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu’s endorsement of the goal of establishing a Palestinian state, describing it as an "important step forward," and says President Obama will continue working with Israel, the Palestinians and others to achieve a two-state solution, as well as a comprehensive regional peace between Israel and its neighbors.

White House press secretary Robert Gibbs said June 14 that the president believes a two-state solution "can and must ensure both Israel’s security and the fulfillment of the Palestinians’ legitimate aspirations for a viable state."

In a June 14 speech, the Israeli prime minister accepted the idea of having two states living side by side, but said the Palestinian state should be demilitarized and recognize Israel as the state of the Jewish people. He also said Israel will continue to allow the "natural growth" of Jewish settlements in the occupied West Bank.

State Department spokesman Ian Kelly said U.S. officials "take it as a positive that [Netanyahu] accepted this idea of two states living side by side."

Speaking June 15, Kelly said it would be "a complicated negotiation" to realize that goal. "Prime Minister Netanyahu has laid out his point of view as he sees it as the head of the Israeli government [and] we’ve seen the reaction of various Palestinian officials and leaders."

A solution must be "worked out, first and foremost, between the two parties themselves," he said, describing the U.S. role as "a facilitator in this process."

It is in the interests of everyone in the Middle East to find a solution that leads to "the state of Israel and a Palestinian state living side by side and … a future of security and prosperity for both peoples," Kelly said.

Asked about the U.S. position on Israeli settlements, the spokesman said Israel has an obligation to freeze all settlement activity under the 2003 road map for peace. "Our position is that it has to stop. We know it’s a difficult issue, but it’s one that has to be addressed. And we’re continuing to discuss this issue with the Israeli government," he said.

However, he said, settlements are "just one of the obstacles" to the ultimate goal of achieving a peaceful solution with Israelis and Palestinians "living in their historic homelands."

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