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Israel: We hope Obama speech heralds new era in Mideast
By Barak Ravid, Haaretz Correspondent, Haaretz Service and Agencies
Tags: Israel News 

The Israeli government praised U.S. President Barack Obama's speech to the Muslim world Thursday, saying it shared his hopes for Middle East peace, but stressed that Israel's security interests remained paramount.

"We share President Obama's hope that the American effort heralds the opening of a new era that will bring an end to the conflict and to general Arab recognition of Israel as the nation of the Jewish people that lives in security and peace in the Middle East," an official statement said after Obama's address in Cairo.

The statement made no mention of settlements, which Obama said should not be expanded, nor Palestinian statehood.
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At odds with Obama, Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu has said that construction would continue in existing settlements in the West Bank and he has not publicly endorsed a two-state solution to the Israeli-Palestinian conflict.

Netanyahu's bureau also released a statement Thursday affirming Israel's desire to pursue peace, but in accordance with its national interests.

"Israel is committed to peace and will do all it can to expand the circle of peace while considering its national interests, first and foremost being security," the statement said.

Later Thursday, Defense Minster Ehud Barak echoed the comments in welcoming Obama's address and reiterated Israel's desire to pursue peace talks.

"In the speech there is reinforcement and encouragement for moderate elements and supporters of peace; there is also outspoken criticism of terrorism and [its] origins of violence and extremism that are threatening the stability of our region and the entire world," said Barak in a statement.

He added that Israel lauded Obama's commitment to its existence and security, and his calls for the country's integration in Middle East.

"Israel is committed to advancing negotiations with the Palestinians, based on agreements that have previously been committed to," he said. "We hope that the Arab world will heed the calls of President Obama to put an end to terror and violence and forge peaceful relations with Israel."

Earlier in the day, Daniel Hershkowitz, chairman of the rightist Habayit Hayehudi party, said that Obama ignored the fact that the Palestinians have yet to renounce terror.

"The Israeli government is not an American surplus," he said during a tour of Hebron. "Our relations are based on friendship, not domination, and we've got to draw a line when it comes to natural growth in the settlements."

Kadima MK Ze'ev Boim said that "Obama's speech is yet another proof that Netanyahu miscalculated the foreign policy of the new American administration."

"The president's take on the Palestinian question is similar to Kadima's, and it's a shame that narrow political considerations prevented the Israeli government from espousing the two-state solution which is the only one that can ensure a Jewish and democratic existence in Israel."

Kadima MK Yohanan Plesner said that "Israel could benefit from the America's improved image in the Arab world and leverage it to forge a regional coalition, together with the moderate Arab countries, to counter Iran, but instead the government is engaged in marginal debates on outposts."

Minority Affairs Minister Avishay Braverman (Labor) said that Obama was right that the world's common enemy is extremism and that finding a common strategy is the way to defeat it.

"We should adopt a similar strategy in Jewish-Arab and religious-secular relations, as well as vis-à-vis the Palestinians," Braverman said. "We are committed to the two-state solution."

Meretz leader Haim Oron, for his part, welcomed Obama's speech. He said it was filled with inspiration, optimism and vision.

"The speech is the feat of enlightenment," he said.

An Israeli settler spokeswoman dismissed Obama's speech in Cairo as naive and out of touch with reality.

Aliza Herbst, a resident of the Ofra settlement, said modern history has shown that the Muslim world is at war with the West. She added that Obama's vision of peace sounded nice but was not realistic.

Peres: Obama visit is a rare opportunity for peace

President Shimon Peres praised Obama's Mideast speech as a historic opportunity in a guest column in The Times.

Obama's journey to Saudi Arabia and Egypt, Peres wrote, "reflects both the need for an historic change in the Middle East and a unique chance of achieving it."

Peres said that the international options that are being discussed - the Saudi peace initiative as well as the so-called "57-state solution" proposed by King Abdullah of Jordan - could create a favorable momentum that would lead to the resolution of the Israeli-Arab conflict.

He called on Arab countries to engage in bilateral negotiations with Israel while espousing a regional process of normalization.

"Support from the entire Arab world will provide legitimacy for the Palestinian Authority as it approaches the difficult task of making and then implementing historic compromises. At the same time it may reassure Israel that the painful concessions it will make will be rewarded by a broader, more enduring comprehensive peace across the region," Peres wrote.

Peres said Obama's fervent commitment to changing American foreign policy in the Middle East is a rare opportunity.

"The regional leaders have to treat these options seriously - not as another photo-opportunity but in a substantive discussion aimed at opening the door towards comprehensive peace and regional economic development," he concluded.

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      2.   The Settlers, Obama and Peres 15:59  |  Yaakov Sullivan 04/06/09
      3.   Settlers Moving in the Wrong Direction 16:11  |  BDF 04/06/09
      4.   Yesha Council joins forces with al Qaeda 16:11  |  W 04/06/09
      5.   Reject the rejectionists! 16:12  |  O-Dog 04/06/09
      6.   Settler leaders should be in jail. 16:19  |  jens 04/06/09
      7.   Let`s not get into the `Hussein`, thing, that`s silly... 16:28  |  Tom Lobo Meyer 04/06/09
      8.   settlers insults 17:23  |  Mike 04/06/09
      9.   The real battle is here, sad the Settler Leaders Don`t Realize 17:26  |  shmuel 04/06/09
      10.   to BDF....It is all because of religions 17:29  |  Tony Silver 04/06/09
      11.   it`s enough!!! 17:29  |  Sam 04/06/09
      12.   "Nation of the jewish people" 18:17  |  Olafur Gislason 04/06/09
      13.   short memories 18:17  |  andrew 04/06/09
      14.   RE: Let`s not get into the `Hussein`, thing, that`s silly... 18:20  |  Kevin Kavanagh 04/06/09
      15.   Who will bring Peace? 18:27  |  Pastor Joseph 04/06/09
      16.   There is no such thing as an occupation 18:36  |  Settler 04/06/09
      17.   to Lobo Mayer......Mr.Obama must be respected 18:47  |  Tony Silver 04/06/09
      18.   The Rightists Sound Out of Step Out of Time 18:56  |  Jane 04/06/09
      19.   America Is Israel`s Security 19:03  |  MB 04/06/09
      20.   Bibi, Lieberman, Settlers perfect punching bags for Obama 19:21  |  binny 04/06/09
      21.   Policy versus General Feelings 19:57  |  Gary 04/06/09
      22.   President Shimon Peres` vision. 19:57  |  philtlucre 04/06/09
      23.   Re Settlements and Peace 20:30  |  leoblue 04/06/09
      24.   There is no such thing as an occupation reply 20:53  |  losmuertos 04/06/09
      25.   Land thieves not settlers 20:58  |  james phillips 04/06/09
      26.   Arabs are the Occupiers! We have a deed to the land....its Torah 20:59  |  Florence Kaplan 04/06/09
      27.   #7 Tom, thank you for your statement.. 21:10  |  Ardi 04/06/09
      28.   Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu 21:29  |  Steve 04/06/09
      29.   Obama selling Peace-Hamburgers in Cairo. 21:33  |  Fortuna Benmayor 04/06/09
      30.   Obama`s speech to the Arab nations 21:35  |  Mishkan 04/06/09
      31.   There is no such thing as an occupation 21:41  |  Ray Rodriguez 04/06/09
      32.   Israelis: 21:55  |  Mariano 04/06/09
      33.   Obama`s speech in Cairo 21:56  |  ruben siedner 04/06/09
      34.   Pastor Joseph: Peace 01:51  |  DavidSanders 05/06/09
      35.   Gary: Policy on Settlements 01:56  |  DavidSanders 05/06/09
      36.   Arab Recognition of Israel pivots on Israel Ending its Occupation 02:12  |  Johan Odin 05/06/09
      37.   26 A more recent agreement than the Torah, signed, notarized, 02:18  |  lydia 05/06/09
      38.   Florence Kaplan 03:39  |  Maria 05/06/09
      39.   The settlers are the terrorist not the Palestinains 03:39  |  betz55 05/06/09
      40.   Mariano...who`s starving the people in Gaza? 03:45  |  Maria 05/06/09
      41.   stop it 14:26  |  dana 05/06/09
      42.   re Policy vs general feelings 22:18  |  ed a 05/06/09
      43.   BDF 11:18  |  Just Me 06/06/09
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