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| Obama welcomes Netanyahu speech | Obama welcomes Netanyahu speech |
| (2 days later) | |
| US President Barack Obama has welcomed as "positive movement" Israeli PM Benjamin Netanyahu's backing of a demilitarised Palestinian state. | US President Barack Obama has welcomed as "positive movement" Israeli PM Benjamin Netanyahu's backing of a demilitarised Palestinian state. |
| The US leader played down Arab anger over the terms Mr Netanyahu laid out in a major policy speech on Sunday. | The US leader played down Arab anger over the terms Mr Netanyahu laid out in a major policy speech on Sunday. |
| But Mr Obama again demanded an end to Israeli settlement activity, over which he and Mr Netanyahu have locked horns. | But Mr Obama again demanded an end to Israeli settlement activity, over which he and Mr Netanyahu have locked horns. |
| The Palestinian Authority PM described the speech as "a new blow to efforts to salvage the peace process". | The Palestinian Authority PM described the speech as "a new blow to efforts to salvage the peace process". |
| Palestinian and Arab leaders have expressed frustration over Mr Netanyahu's demand that the Palestinians recognise Israel as a Jewish state, which was not included in previous Israeli-Palestinian agreements. | Palestinian and Arab leaders have expressed frustration over Mr Netanyahu's demand that the Palestinians recognise Israel as a Jewish state, which was not included in previous Israeli-Palestinian agreements. |
| This would rule out any return of Palestinian refugees to Israel, a key issue in peace talks, and also creates Palestinian concern over the status of Israel's one million Israeli-Arab citizens. | This would rule out any return of Palestinian refugees to Israel, a key issue in peace talks, and also creates Palestinian concern over the status of Israel's one million Israeli-Arab citizens. |
| Egyptian President Hosni Mubarak said the request "aborts the chance for peace". | Egyptian President Hosni Mubarak said the request "aborts the chance for peace". |
| If we have guarantees on demilitarisation and if the Palestinians recognise Israel as a state of the Jewish people, then we arrive at a solution based on a demilitarised Palestinian state alongside Israel Benjamin NetanyhuIsraeli Prime Minister Key excerpts of speech Send us your comments | If we have guarantees on demilitarisation and if the Palestinians recognise Israel as a state of the Jewish people, then we arrive at a solution based on a demilitarised Palestinian state alongside Israel Benjamin NetanyhuIsraeli Prime Minister Key excerpts of speech Send us your comments |
| Until Sunday, Mr Netanyahu had resisted US pressure to overturn his refusal to back the principle of a Palestinian state, a position he had held since coming to office with a right-leaning government earlier this year. | Until Sunday, Mr Netanyahu had resisted US pressure to overturn his refusal to back the principle of a Palestinian state, a position he had held since coming to office with a right-leaning government earlier this year. |
| Mr Obama said on Monday the speech raised "at least the possibility that we can restart serious talks", but he admitted Mr Netanyahu outlined "a lot of conditions". | Mr Obama said on Monday the speech raised "at least the possibility that we can restart serious talks", but he admitted Mr Netanyahu outlined "a lot of conditions". |
| Mr Netanyahu said he wanted to restart negotiations "without preconditions". | Mr Netanyahu said he wanted to restart negotiations "without preconditions". |
| But he also said he wanted Jerusalem - where both sides want their capitals - to remain united. | But he also said he wanted Jerusalem - where both sides want their capitals - to remain united. |
| He stressed that a Palestinian state can have no military capability and no control of its airspace, while "natural growth" in Israeli settlements in the occupied West Bank would continue. | He stressed that a Palestinian state can have no military capability and no control of its airspace, while "natural growth" in Israeli settlements in the occupied West Bank would continue. |
| The Palestinian Authority wants a total freeze on settlement activity in line with past agreements before it will return to the negotiating table. | The Palestinian Authority wants a total freeze on settlement activity in line with past agreements before it will return to the negotiating table. |
| Mr Obama said addressing Israel's conditions on security and the Palestinians' conditions on sovereignty was "exactly what negotiations are supposed to be about". | Mr Obama said addressing Israel's conditions on security and the Palestinians' conditions on sovereignty was "exactly what negotiations are supposed to be about". |
| An aide said the US president believed there was "a long way to go" in the peace process, although he was "pleased" with progress so far. | An aide said the US president believed there was "a long way to go" in the peace process, although he was "pleased" with progress so far. |
| Palestinian Prime Minister Salam Fayyad said Mr Netanyahu had "failed to meet the expectations of the international community", Reuters news agency reported. | Palestinian Prime Minister Salam Fayyad said Mr Netanyahu had "failed to meet the expectations of the international community", Reuters news agency reported. |
| In Israel, polls published on Tuesday showed a strong rise in public support for Mr Netanyahu in the wake of the long-anticipated speech. | In Israel, polls published on Tuesday showed a strong rise in public support for Mr Netanyahu in the wake of the long-anticipated speech. |
| The prime minister's approval rating had risen from a low of 28% last month to 44%, a poll by the newspaper Haaretz found. | The prime minister's approval rating had risen from a low of 28% last month to 44%, a poll by the newspaper Haaretz found. |
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