 President Obama meets with King Abdullah II of Jordan in the Oval Office on Tuesday
May 17th, 2011
03:16 PM ET
Obama urges new talks between Palestinians and IsraelisBy CNN's Alan Silverleib WASHINGTON (CNN) - President Barack Obama said Tuesday it is critical for Israelis and Palestinians to restart negotiations on an "equitable and just" two-state solution to their decades-long conflict. Obama made his remarks during a meeting with Jordan's King Abdullah II at the White House, kicking off a critical week for the administration's Middle East policy. The president is scheduled to deliver an address Thursday on U.S. policy toward the "Arab Spring" uprisings that have shaken autocratic regimes across North Africa and the broader Arab world. Obama is slated to meet with Israeli Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu on Friday. Netanyahu, in turn, will deliver an address to Congress while in Washington. "The United States has an enormous stake in this," he said It's part of a larger push for political and economic reform designed to meet "the aspirations of young people throughout the Arab world." Across the region, "some of the old structures that were inhibiting their ability to progress have to be reworked," he said. The White House is putting the Arab-Israeli peace process - and the Middle East as a whole - back in the spotlight at a time when serious questions have been raised regarding its track record in the region. Former Sen. George Mitchell unexpectedly submitted his resignation as the president's Mideast envoy Friday, and deadly clashes broke out Sunday between pro-Palestinian protesters and Israeli forces. Ongoing Israeli settlement construction in the West Bank and Palestinian steps toward a unilateral declaration of statehood have driven the two sides further apart since Obama took office. They have also placed new obstacles in the path of the administration's push for a mutually acceptable two-state solution. Additional doubts about the viability of the stalled peace process were raised this month in the wake of a formal reconciliation agreement between the two largest Palestinian factions: President Mahmoud Abbas' party, the West Bank-based Fatah, and the Islamist group Hamas, which rules Gaza. Both Israel and the United States consider Hamas a terrorist organization and have voiced strong opposition to the inclusion of the group in any unity government, demanding that it first renounce violence, recognize the state of Israel and abide by all previous agreements. Netanyahu has called on the Palestinian Authority to pull out of the deal, saying it jeopardizes prospects for a peace agreement. A senior Israeli government official recently said the government views Hamas' involvement as a "fundamental impasse." The agreement among Hamas, Fatah and smaller Palestinian factions calls for the establishment of a new Palestinian caretaker government and for parliamentary and presidential elections next year. "The circumstances are difficult and not likely to magically resolve themselves," White House press secretary Jay Carney told reporters Tuesday. But "this is a moment of opportunity" for the Israelis and Palestinians, he insisted, citing the "historic change" taking place in the region. Obama's Thursday speech - to be delivered at the State Department - will address the Israeli-Palestinian conflict, according to officials who spoke on the condition of not being identified. It also will address the ongoing fight against al Qaeda in the wake of Osama bin Laden's killing in Pakistan and the reform movement embodied in the Arab Spring. "The president will make news" when he gives the speech, Carney promised Tuesday, saying he will outline "specific new ideas" about U.S. policy for the Middle East. The president will discuss situations in specific countries, and is expected to come out strongly against Syrian President Bashar al-Assad's violent response to protesters in his country, the officials said. They expect additional U.S. sanctions on Syria to be announced before the speech and said the new measures could target al-Assad by name. Bahrain and Yemen are among the other countries likely to be mentioned by name in the speech, but not with the same level of criticism expected to be directed at Syria, the officials added. The president's speech comes nearly two years after his closely watched address in Cairo that called for "a new beginning" between the United States and the Muslim world. Obama's 2009 Cairo speech was well-received, but Washington is still struggling to overcome decades of mounting Arab anger and suspicion driven in part by past U.S. support for various Arab dictators and monarchs. Obama helped push Egyptian President Hosni Mubarak from office in February and subsequently committed U.S. forces to a NATO air campaign in support of the rebel movement in Libya. The administration has repeatedly called for an end to strongman Moammar Gadhafi's nearly 42-year rule. The administration also slapped sanctions on top Syrian officials after the crackdown on pro-reform protests there. The White House has been much less vocal, however, in dealing with allies such as Bahrain, a small Persian Gulf state that is home to the U.S. Navy's Fifth Fleet. Analysts have said expectations are high in the Arab world for Obama to lay out a clearer statement of American intentions on Thursday. The Arab Spring has put "tremendous force" on repressive governments around the region, former National Intelligence Director Dennis Blair said Sunday. "They are bottling up forces which will eventually push them out," Blair said. "So I think that what the United States does is to encourage that in general, and then we support specifically where we can." CNN's Elise Labott, Tom Cohen and Matt Smith contributed to this report. |
  |
 |
|||
|
|
|
||||
FTA: The agreement among Hamas, Fatah and smaller Palestinian factions calls for the establishment of a new Palestinian caretaker government and for parliamentary and presidential elections next year.
If this agreement will materialize and if this "new Palestinian caretaker government" or the next one that will be established as a result of parliamentary and presidential elections next year will STOP VIOLENCE, RECOGNIZE ISRAEL AND ASK FOR PEACE NEGOTIATIONS then the new talks between Israel and the Palestinians will become possible and, hopefully, even productive. I doubt very much, however, that it will happen despite Obama's "urges".
I guess these countries are to big to fail. Who says the US policies are not consistant?
Total typical political posturing. He calls for what he knows will never happen, to make it look like he's doing his job. Even acts like Netanyahu should have just dropped what he was doing and followed him. I've noticed both parties doing the same thing over and over.
The PLO are free to enter Israel at anytime and occupy the country, as well as cast the Israelis out. This is not a serious report, and those competent should be discussing the matter. 2-3-2012.
NETANYAHU MADE OBAMA LOOK LIKE A MORON.
SAVE AMERICA ... DUMP OBAMA IN 2012 !!!
May I inform President Obama that unless he speaks about the fair and just resolution of Palestine issue, no one, yes no one in the middle east will waste their single second on listening his lecture. Muslims have been fooled by Obama several times and they have no love left for him to listen again. Also he has nothing NEW to say about the Arab uprising because he is already failed to provide decisive leadership to the freedom hungry Arab masses. Obama as usual selected the path to please Israel by supporting Jordan, Saudi, Yemen, Bahrain and several dictators including Mubarak and Gadhafi to the last minute. Much better if he remains quiet; wait and watch what is coming in the near future. He has no guts to take any decision to displease Israel or Israeli lobby or their 80% Senators and Congressmen to get elected again, and the matter is dead there.
Can you elaborate on WHAT EXACTLY you mean by "fair and just resolution of Palestine issue", if you don't mind?
"freedom hungry Arab masses" - I haven't seen those people interested in the freedom of people of Israel, Jew and non-Jew alike, and from what the Muslim fundamentalless - they're only interested in killing anyone who isn't like them.
Decent Muslims seem to keep quiet out of fear, not out of freedom for all. They know better!!
NO ONE has freedom if all peoples don't.
It's the ages old story - the Christians murdered Jews who refused to convert ... and now the Muslims who have nothing better to do are willing to murder Christians, too. Christians didn't like the Jewish bible and laws of G-d, so they made up their own bible (aka NT) ... then Islam arose out of Judaism and Christianity because Muslims said theirs was better.
Scientology is on the rise, folks!!!
I wonder what First Lady Obama's cousin, Rabbi Funnye, chief rabbi in Chicago, has to say about President Obama's words.
Nothing was ever gained by sitting straddled over a fence.
Jews are less than 1/4 of 1% of the entire world's population!!! If any people have what to worry about it's the Jews - we have been attacked for thousands of years and now non-Jews are angry that we fight back!
One Holocaust was enough!!!!
Good....I agree so HANDLE YOUR OWN country's problems. We have our own and NO I am not anti-Israel...Everybody has problems. Not jusdt Israel...
Eunice, the last time I looked Israel HAS taken care of their problems!! Jews haven't survived by waiting for others to fight their battles.
Yes, they've had help, but mostly from their own.
Howard, the "false messiah" is the one Christians pray to. He hasn't done a darn thing, except try to get others to play nice, and even with that, he offered only that if people listened to him they would have eternal whatever.
He would be appalled at what has been done in his name!! Stop praying to an idol ... and get back to G-d, as G-d said!!
What is your definition of "fair and just resolution" of Palestine?
How about Isreal put on theri big girls or boys pant and take care of their own problems.
Tiree of other COUNTRIES problems.
we have are OWN. !!!!
I will presume that you are a citizen of the USA – if so, give back the land to the natives!! At least visit their pitiful federal housing.
Truth and Trust and Honesty have long gone, and since nothing has truly changed, we are each part of the problem.
Howard, I'm sure when you get Palin and some of those other morons back into office, you'll be a happy camper. No one seems to remember that President Obama can't make vital decisions by himself – he has to follow the laws and rules and demands of his advisors, etc.
You want a dictator, there are still countries where you can move to have that type of 'government.'
The agreement among Hamas, Fatah and smaller Palestinian factions calls for the establishment of a new Palestinian caretaker government and for parliamentary and presidential elections next year.
If this agreement will materialize and if this "new Palestinian caretaker government" or the next one that will be established as a result of parliamentary and presidential elections next year will STOP VIOLENCE, RECOGNIZE ISRAEL AND ASK FOR PEACE NEGOTIATIONS then the new talks between Israel and the Palestinians will become possible and, hopefully, even productive. I doubt very much, however, that it will happen despite Obama's "urges".
Obama will try to tap into the never ending anti-semitism, which has run rampant throughout Europe for centuries, in order to gain support for his anti-Israel policies. Adolf and Barack have more in common than you may think. Next, he'll try to control the media in the U.S.A. ... and, then all dissent, by also trying to control the internet.
Obama must have felt the negative shock waves for his insane, stupid request to Israel, that they basically commit suicide. I'm assuming, and I'm hoping, it resulted in American Jews backing away from their Obama 2012 reelection financial support. I have a feeling Obama will start to do his characteristic FLIP / FLOP on this position, in order to get back part of the BILLION dollar campaign money he has been bragging about. If Obama's policies and governing have been so good, why does he have to buy the election with a Billion dollars ???
SAVE AMERICA ... DUMP OBAMA IN 2012 !!!
I wonder why my comments are "awaiting moderation" for a couple of hours and why others were let through. Any clues, moderators?
Because like me you probably did say words of praise about oduma.
DID NOT SAY WORDS OF PRAISE
Would this be like Japan telling the US they must work together with Iran?
Obama naive and not my President.,,, and never will.
The tiny country of Israel, surrounded by enemies throughout its entire existence, has maintained a policy of not negotiating with terrorists, in order to survive. Hamas, a terrorist organization, is in charge of the Palestinian government.
If Obama had an ounce of moral courage, he would not be throwing Israel under hamas' bus. Obama should stand up to Islamic terrorism, but instead, he won't evenpermit the term 'Islamic terrorism' to be used.
This POS thinks anyone cares about his view on foreigm matters when he can't even get a handle on his own domestic problems????? It would seem our four year experiment of no president in office is not working very well.
How so Howard? Did he make Bush and Clinton look like 'morons'? From what I heard, they offered Netanyahu the same alternative or resolutional suggestion. President Obama didn't look like any more of a moron than any other past American President. Folk like you're the ones who're on a diligent mission to try to make our President look like a moron! You're hoping you could get something to stick, but it's NOT working! Netanyahu just stuck to the 'same old guns', so to speak, he's held for years! He said NO!
Oh, here come the brain washed Obama worshipers, once again absolving their false messiah of all responsibility for his stupid policies, decisions and deception. These blindly loyal blogging brown shirts are once again trashing anyone who even has the audacity to question their empty suit leader, or reveal the truth of Obama's incompetency and corruption.
SAVE AMERICA ... DUMP OBAMA IN 2012 !!!