Obama urges Palestinians to drop settlement precondition

[Eugene]

Source: BBC

21 March 2013 Last updated at 15:40 GMT

Obama urges Palestinians to drop settlement precondition

President Barack Obama has urged Palestinians to drop their demands for a freeze in Israeli settlement building as a precondition for peace talks.

Speaking in Ramallah after talks with Palestinian President Mahmoud Abbas, Mr Obama said settlement activity was "not appropriate for peace".

He stressed his commitment to a two-state solution, but said both sides may have to "push through" disagreements.

Later, he told Israelis they had a "true partner" for peace in Mr Abbas.

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Read more: http://www.bbc.co.uk/news/world-middle-east-21872408

[R. Daneel Olivaw]

1. That's not a roadmap for peace, and it runs contrary to the

international community/UN demands for withdrawal of illegal Israeli settlements.

"Just as Israelis built a state in their homeland, Palestinians have a right to be a free people in their own land," he said, urging the audience to "look at the world through their eyes".

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"My argument is that even though both sides may have areas of strong disagreement, maybe engaging in activities that the other side considers to be a breach of good faith, we have to push through those things to try to get to an agreement," he said.

Israel has intentions of adding another 500k settlers to the West Bank. There can be no viable state for the Palestinians while Israel continues Jim Crow and apartheid.

But as long as Israel and America have an eternal friendship forever I guess it is alright.