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Last update - 14:40 12/02/2009
White House: Obama to push peace process, regardless of Israel leader
By Natasha Mozgovaya, Haaretz Correspondent, and Reuters
Tags: Foreign policy, U.S., Obama 

United States President Barack Obama intends to work toward Middle East peace regardless of who forms Israel's new government, the White House said Wednesday, following Tuesday's elections.

"President Obama looks forward to working with whoever makes up that next Israeli government in a search for lasting and durable peace in the region," White House spokesman Robert Gibbs said.

Obama telephoned President Shimon Peres to congratulate Israel for its successful elections and praised him for his steadfast support for a two-state solution with the Palestinians, the White House said.
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Gibbs added that while the Israeli elections signal a strong democracy, it is unclear what the results will mean for peace in the Mideast until a new prime minister is named.

A few thousand soldiers' votes remained uncounted following Tuesday's general Israeli elections, leaving the final tally uncertain.

After 99% of the votes were tallied, the centrist Kadima party emerged in the lead, but only barely, with one Knesset seat more than the right-wing Likud Party, which won 27 out of 120 Knesset seats.

Though Kadima won more seats, the right-wing bloc gained a substantial majority of the seats, leaving Likud Chairman Benjamin Netanyahu in a better position than Kadima leader Tzipi Livni to recruit a 61-majority needed to form a stable coalition.

The results of Israel's elections have been confusing for American officials, but the basic assessment is that regardless of who becomes the next prime minister, the shift to the right is clear, and there are no breakthroughs expected with the peace process.

In fact, Iran, a Hamas sponsor, is considered to be a more promising track.

Gibbs stressed, however, that Obama remains committed to working with Israel and its new government.

Earlier Wednesday, Obama spoke to President Shimon Peres and congratulated him on the election process.

"This afternoon, President Obama spoke to President Peres of Israel to extend his congratulations to the Israeli people on their general elections yesterday," a statement from the office of the U.S. president said.

"The President remarked that the Israeli people should be very happy about the democratic example they have set for the world. They had a good discussion, and the President complimented President Peres on his recent op-ed in which he reaffirmed his strong commitment to achieving a two-state solution to the Israeli-Palestinian conflict."

Also on Wednesday, U.S. State Department spokesman Robert Wood told reporters that the U.S. was looking forward to working with whatever new government is formed in Israel.

At a Washington press conference, Wood said that the Obama administration will not speculate on what kind of government will be formed. Wood called Israel a thriving democracy and said the administration intends to pursue a robust agenda once the new Israeli leadership is established.

"The government needs to be formed. We will hold discussions with the government once it's in place. The important thing is we're looking forward to working with whoever heads it. It's up to the Israeli people, not the Israeli government, who will be in it," he said.

Referring to the possible inclusion of anti-Arab right wing Yisrael Beiteinu in the future coalition, Wood said "It's not for the U.S. to make this kind of characterization, it's the choice the Israeli people made. We have a robust agenda with Israeli government."

"We've been working over the years with governments in Israel on trying to bring about - trying to affect the peace process. And that's still going to be our goal," Wood went on to say.

Addressing the two-state solution backed by the U.S. in Middle East peace talks, the State Department spokesman said "certainly that's what we have been pursuing. And, you know, again, let's let a government be formed."

"We certainly hope that a new government will continue to pursue a path to peace," Wood said.

However, Wood said that the U.S. special envoy to the Middle East, George Mitchell, still intends to travel to Israel and elsewhere in the region in the near future. It will be his second visit to the region this month.

Related articles:
  • Livni: I'll fight on despite poor odds
  • Election results allow leaders to focus on bringing Shalit home
  • Yet-uncounted soldiers' votes expected to create Kadima-Likud tie


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      1.   The shift to the right in Israel 19:56  |  Bill 11/02/09
      2.   What about respecting the choice the Palestinians made in Gaza? 20:26  |  Ali 11/02/09
      3.   But of course... 21:15  |  Michael N 11/02/09
      4.   Respecting Palestinian Choices as well as Israeli choices 21:20  |  Judy Hollander 11/02/09
      5.   2Ali:What about respecting Israel`s right to live WITHOUT QASSAMS 21:20  |  Vittorio 11/02/09
      6.   USA will respect a STRONG and FIRM ISRAEL. 21:22  |  Vittorio 11/02/09
      7.   respecting the choice - to Ali2 21:30  |  Sceptic 11/02/09
      8.   Bill from NYC 21:32  |  Bill H. 11/02/09
      9.   Obama will sell out Israeli interests 21:35  |  marat 11/02/09
      10.   That`s the end of any hope of a Palestinian state... 21:54  |  Silvienne 11/02/09
      11.   Israel 21:58  |  alan 11/02/09
      12.   Ali 22:11  |  todd 11/02/09
      13.   Loyalty tests of citizens 22:11  |  Goldberg 11/02/09
      14.   Great election, folks 22:22  |  Jasper 11/02/09
      15.   A Right wing Israel 22:44  |  Bill 11/02/09
      16.   PEACE 22:52  |  Gili 11/02/09
      17.   Peace!!! with whom 23:16  |  ottomatik 11/02/09
      18.   #9, marat....not really 23:20  |  Silvienne 11/02/09
      19.   #9 marat....not really.my mistake sorry 00:40  |  Silvienne 12/02/09
      20.   Message to Haaretz 01:59  |  shlomo 12/02/09
      21.   The possibility went from non-existent to 03:24  |  Mark Lincoln 12/02/09
      22.   to: marat 03:34  |  franz 12/02/09
      23.   #4 - Judy Hollander 04:51  |  MichaelF 12/02/09
      24.   #14 - Jasper 05:00  |  MichaelF 12/02/09
      25.   just a guess 06:08  |  John 12/02/09
      26.   Democracy is more than merely casting a vote 06:48  |  Kris Lazar 12/02/09
      27.   US double standard regarding elections in Israel and Palestine 06:49  |  Yesh Prabhu 12/02/09
      28.   re: John 08:58  |  UsedToPostHere 12/02/09
      29.   two-state solution not a solution 09:04  |  facts 12/02/09
      30.   re: Silvienne 09:06  |  UsedToPostHere 12/02/09
      31.   re: Goldberg 09:07  |  UsedToPostHere 12/02/09
      32.   Likud is not hamas 09:31  |  Ron 12/02/09
      33.   What els 10:38  |  Dav 12/02/09
      34.   #5Victrorio: what about withdrawing from the occupied territories 10:48  |  Leb 12/02/09
      35.   Will US respect Israels right to build MORE settlements? 11:43  |  ramin 12/02/09
      36.   U.S. should worry about its own stability 11:47  |  Michael 12/02/09
      37.   Right Wing Governments make peace more than left 12:31  |  GR 12/02/09
      38.   DEFINITION OF DEMOCRACY 12:32  |  Neutered Observer 12/02/09
      39.   #31 UsedToPostHere ...... talk is cheep 13:17  |  allang 12/02/09
      40.   Obama will decide our future no matter what we want? 13:25  |  x-ray 12/02/09
      41.   An absolutely great disaster threatens Israel: 14:00  |  S 12/02/09
      42.   Pushing for Peace with one wheel carriage will not make it ! 14:14  |  Akram Zekaria 12/02/09
      43.   to Ron 14:52  |  jos 12/02/09
      44.   Working For Years With The Israeli Government 15:42  |  Yaakov Sullivan 12/02/09
      45.   Either the US Starts Holding Israel to Account, Or... 15:48  |  Yaakov Sullivan 12/02/09
      46.   On a Palestinian State -- SECOND TRY 15:49  |  Angel 12/02/09
      47.   Rock and Hard Place 16:21  |  Steve 12/02/09
      48.   IF I WERE ISRAELIS 16:46  |  indrajaya 12/02/09
      49.   U.S. vital interests lie with the Arab world, not Israel. 18:24  |  Lou Medel 12/02/09
      50.   Allan G 18:41  |  Persian Kitty 12/02/09
      51.   Sure it is so easy. 18:44  |  khairi janbek 12/02/09
      52.   x-ray 19:26  |  Ray S 12/02/09
      53.   #40 For x-ray ...Testing,testing.But read when & if it comes out. 21:00  |  KATHY 12/02/09
      54.   #18 Silvienne - Not really true 21:12  |  *BEN JABO 12/02/09
      55.   Look at the U.S. stock Market 21:17  |  *BEN JABO 12/02/09
      56.   re: allang 21:48  |  UsedToPostHere 12/02/09
      57.   #8 Billy H re: Bill from NYC(testing,testing)Up there you know eh 21:48  |  KATHY 12/02/09
      58.   X-ray - America tired of Obama...? 21:56  |  Palestinian Brit 12/02/09
      59.   re: Lou Medel 21:57  |  UsedToPostHere 12/02/09
      60.   to Ali 22:13  |  Antonio da Silva 12/02/09
      61.   #50 UsedToPostHere re:Medel My points too.(testing you up there!) 22:16  |  KATHY 12/02/09
      62.   Israel and palestine 23:13  |  Sidi 12/02/09
      63.   to Akram Zekaria #41 - 2nd try 23:20  |  zeev 12/02/09
      64.   # 39 hey there allang..So what`s wrong withe our macho Sabra?? 23:31  |  KATHY 12/02/09
      65.   re: Bill from NYC 23:37  |  John C 12/02/09
      66.   #39 Third Try(allang)So what`s the matter with SABRAS? 00:22  |  KATHY 13/02/09
      67.   Hamas and Likud 00:25  |  Mark Lincoln 13/02/09
      68.   #58 Mark Lincoln..By your definition,I say so is the USA. 00:48  |  KATHY 13/02/09
      69.   to Bill H. #8 00:53  |  zeev 13/02/09
      70.   Peace in the middle east 04:49  |  brian.shacter 13/02/09
      71.   # 50 Sweet kitty ..... happy cat-calls 05:05  |  allang 13/02/09
      72.   re: Mark Lincoln 05:15  |  UsedToPostHere 13/02/09
      73.   re: Yaakov Sullivan 05:16  |  UsedToPostHere 13/02/09
      74.   Push push in the bush... 06:20  |  Murat 13/02/09
      75.   Wrong again Silviene 06:29  |  Murat 13/02/09
      76.   MEDELL. US imports most of its oil from Canada& increasingly so. 07:28  |  PETER SM 13/02/09
      77.   # 50 Sweet kitty ..... happy cat-calls [3] 07:31  |  allang 13/02/09
      78.   US strategic interests is above ALL, that is ALL 08:38  |  Iranian 13/02/09
      79.   pushing peace progress ha ha ha 10:03  |  pusher 13/02/09
      80.   re: Iranian 10:28  |  UsedToPostHere 13/02/09
      81.   #58 Palestinian Brit re: Obummer 15:29  |  *BEN JABO 13/02/09
      82.   #54, Ben Jabo... 19:29  |  Silvienne 13/02/09
      83.   #j55, Ben Jabo... 19:30  |  Silvienne 13/02/09
      84.   #56, usedtoposthere, what are you on about?? 19:32  |  Silvienne 13/02/09
      85.   #73, Murat... 19:34  |  Silvienne 13/02/09
      86.   #30, usedtoposthere....3RD TRY 19:38  |  Silvienne 13/02/09
      87.   Zeev # 69 in Beersheva 22:29  |  Bill H. 13/02/09
      88.   KATHY #57 from KARKUR 22:50  |  Bill H. 13/02/09
      89.   re: Silvienne 23:53  |  UsedToPostHere 13/02/09
      90.   #78 Silvienne - Interesting point 03:20  |  *BEN JABO 14/02/09
      91.   Silvienne - Since you asked 03:35  |  *BEN JABO 14/02/09
      92.   #79 Silvienne - what are YOU on about 03:42  |  *BEN JABO 14/02/09
      93.   Carter knows that in this hell, there`s a devil in the details 08:24  |  Ivar 14/02/09
      94.   to Bill H. #87 - 2nd try 10:00  |  zeev 14/02/09
      95.   re: Ivar 10:25  |  UsedToPostHere 14/02/09
      96.   re: zeev 21:18  |  UsedToPostHere 14/02/09
      97.   to UsedToPostHere #96 13:54  |  zeev 15/02/09
      98.   IF "pushing the "peace" process does NOT mean pressuring Israel 23:00  |  Yaakov K. 15/02/09
      99.   #90, Ben Jabo... 21:10  |  Silvienne 16/02/09
      100.   #89, usedtoposthere... 21:15  |  Silvienne 16/02/09
      101.   #91, Ben Jabo... 21:25  |  Silvienne 16/02/09
      102.   re: Silvienne 02:16  |  UsedToPostHere 17/02/09
      103.   re: zeev 02:17  |  UsedToPostHere 17/02/09
      104.   re: zeev 08:13  |  UsedToPostHere 17/02/09
      105.   re: Silvienne 08:14  |  UsedToPostHere 17/02/09
      106.   to UsedToPostHere #105 08:28  |  zeev 18/02/09
      107.   re: zeev 19:05  |  UsedToPostHere 18/02/09
      108.   Likud far worse than Hamas 03:53  |  Stephan 20/02/09
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