Post by Paddy by Grace on Jun 15, 2009 21:27:28 GMT -7
www.israpundit.com/2008/?p=14336
Former US president Jimmy Carter, visiting in Israel, said on Monday that Binyamin Netanyahu has placed “several obstacles on the road to peace”, in response to the prime minister’s speech Sunday evening.
Carter meets Shaul Goldstein…
“In my opinion, Netanyahu brought up several obstacles to peace in his speech that others before him have not placed,” Carter told the Knesset Foreign Affairs and Defense Committee on Monday.
“He insists on settlement expansion, demands that the Palestinians recognize Israel as a Jewish state even though 20% of Israel’s citizens are not Jewish,” the former US president said.
Carter stressed that the differences between US President Obama and PM Netanyahu can be overcome. “I have to say that in spite of the differences between my president, Barack Obama and Prime Minister Netanyahu, greater differences existed between myself and then-prime minister Begin,” he said.
US Press Secretary Robert Gibbs said in a statement Sunday that "The President welcomes the important step forward in Prime Minister [Binyamin] Netanyahu's speech."
"The President is committed to two states, a Jewish state of Israel and an independent Palestine, in the historic homeland of both peoples. He believes this solution can and must ensure both Israel's security and the fulfillment of the Palestinians' legitimate aspirations for a viable state, and he welcomes Prime Minister Netanyahu's endorsement of that goal," the statement read.
"The President will continue working with all parties - Israel, the Palestinian Authority, Arab states, and our Quartet partners - to see that they fulfill their obligations and responsibilities necessary to achieve a two-state solution to the Israeli-Palestinian conflict and a comprehensive regional peace," it concluded.
Former US president Jimmy Carter, visiting in Israel, said on Monday that Binyamin Netanyahu has placed “several obstacles on the road to peace”, in response to the prime minister’s speech Sunday evening.
Carter meets Shaul Goldstein…
“In my opinion, Netanyahu brought up several obstacles to peace in his speech that others before him have not placed,” Carter told the Knesset Foreign Affairs and Defense Committee on Monday.
“He insists on settlement expansion, demands that the Palestinians recognize Israel as a Jewish state even though 20% of Israel’s citizens are not Jewish,” the former US president said.
Carter stressed that the differences between US President Obama and PM Netanyahu can be overcome. “I have to say that in spite of the differences between my president, Barack Obama and Prime Minister Netanyahu, greater differences existed between myself and then-prime minister Begin,” he said.
US Press Secretary Robert Gibbs said in a statement Sunday that "The President welcomes the important step forward in Prime Minister [Binyamin] Netanyahu's speech."
"The President is committed to two states, a Jewish state of Israel and an independent Palestine, in the historic homeland of both peoples. He believes this solution can and must ensure both Israel's security and the fulfillment of the Palestinians' legitimate aspirations for a viable state, and he welcomes Prime Minister Netanyahu's endorsement of that goal," the statement read.
"The President will continue working with all parties - Israel, the Palestinian Authority, Arab states, and our Quartet partners - to see that they fulfill their obligations and responsibilities necessary to achieve a two-state solution to the Israeli-Palestinian conflict and a comprehensive regional peace," it concluded.