US President Barack Obama confirmed the US is committed to creating two independent states over the Palestinian land.
US President Barack Obama confirmed the US is committed to creating two independent states over the Palestinian land, stressing direct talks between Palestinians and Zionists is the only way to do so.
Speaking at a news conference in the West Bank with Palestinian Authority President Mahmoud Abbas, Obama said Palestinians should not have to confront the daily indignities that come with occupation.
The US president, however, condemned the construction of new Zionist settlements on Palestinian territories, noting that “the US policy does not consider settlement activity constructive, appropriate or advance for the cause of peace.”
Palestinian Authority President Mahmoud Abbas added that "We never gave up our vision that settlement activity is illegal, that the Israeli government understands this. We hope they listen. We spoke about this with the president and we clarified this."
Abbas recalled that Zionist settlements are considered illegal also by the United Nations, which so far has issued “13 resolutions, not only condemning settlements, but demanding ending and removing them because they’re illegal.”
"We’re demanding nothing other than the implementation of international law," Abbas said, pointing out that the question of settlements is one of the biggest obstacles towards realization of a two-state solution.
Abbas stated that the Palestinians recognize what he said “the state of Israel,” pointing out that the Palestinians “continue to recognize Israel according to the Road Map and the Arab Initiative,” he said.
Palestinian leader said he told President Obama that peace between the Palestinians and the entity of occupation cannot be achieved through violence, occupation, settlements, arrests or denial of refugee rights.
Despite the fact that the negotiation process between the Zionist entity and Palestine is stalled, no hope is lost and negotiation will continue.
“I absolutely believe that it is still possible, but I think it is very difficult,” Obama said.
