Obama: Build on Arab Plan for Mideast Peace

  • 0

http://www.haaretz.com/hasen/spages/1097668.html

U.S. President Barack Obama reiterated his call for Israel and the Palestinians to fulfill their obligations toward achieving peace in a letter sent to the king of Morocco.

According to an official source, Obama wrote recently to Morocco’s King Mohammed VI that Israel must cease settlement construction and remove checkpoints in the West Bank.

Obama also urged the Palestinians to strengthen their security forces in order to fight terror more effectively. He also called on them to implement institutional reform in preparation for the creation of a Palestinian state.

“I hope Morocco will be a leader in bridging gaps between Israel and the Arab world,” said Obama in his message.

Obama also stressed that negotiations between Israel and the Palestinians could only succeed “if we can convince the parties to engage constructively.”

Obama also called for Arab states to provide financial and political support to the Palestinian Authority, and to use the framework of the Arab Peace Initiative to solve the conflict.

Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu’s refusal to accede to Obama’s demand for a complete halt to West Bank settlement construction has sparked tensions between Israel and the United States.

Netanyahu earlier this week attended a Fourth of July celebration at the home of American ambassador to Israel James Cunningham, and said that the bond between Israel and the U.S. was still strong, despite their countries’ opposing views on settlements.

Amid tension with Israel’s long-time ally over West Bank settlement construction, the prime minister declared that the sentiments voiced by Obama, who said in Cairo last month that his country’s bond with Israel was unbreakable, were true.

Since taking office, Obama has on multiple occasions said that he would work toward achieving a comprehensive peace in the Middle East, including a Palestinian state living side by side in peace and security with Israel.

Obama: Build on Arab Plan for Mideast Peace

  • 0