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US backs independent Palestinian state - Obama Obama says US backs independent Palestinian state
(35 minutes later)
President Barack Obama has said on a visit to the West Bank that the US is "deeply committed" to creating a sovereign state of Palestine.President Barack Obama has said on a visit to the West Bank that the US is "deeply committed" to creating a sovereign state of Palestine.
Speaking after talks with Palestinian leader Mahmoud Abbas, he said Israeli settlement activity was not "appropriate for peace".Speaking after talks with Palestinian leader Mahmoud Abbas, he said Israeli settlement activity was not "appropriate for peace".
Secretary of State John Kerry would, he added, devote time and energy to trying to bring the two sides closer.Secretary of State John Kerry would, he added, devote time and energy to trying to bring the two sides closer.
Mr Abbas said the talks in Ramallah had been "good and useful" Mr Abbas said the talks in Ramallah had been "good and useful".
However, Palestinian expectations of Mr Obama's visit have been low, analysts say.However, Palestinian expectations of Mr Obama's visit have been low, analysts say.
On Wednesday, as he began his first visit to Israel as US president, Mr Obama vowed strong support for the country. The three-day visit is Mr Obama's first to Israel and the West Bank as president.
He and Israeli Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu reaffirmed their commitment to a two-state solution to the Israel-Palestinian conflict After his meeting with Mr Abbas, which lasted slightly longer than scheduled, he said there were "irritants" on both sides but that direct negotiations were the best solution for Israel and the Palestinians.
At a news briefing in Jerusalem, Mr Obama said a central element of securing a lasting peace in the Middle East "must be a strong and secure Jewish state where its security concerns are met, alongside a sovereign and independent Palestinian state".
On Thursday morning, Israeli officials said two rockets were fired from Gaza into southern Israel, but there were no reports of anyone being hurt. A further two rockets fired from Gaza reportedly fell inside Gaza itself.
Mr Abbas condemned "violence against civilians, whatever its source, including the firing of rockets", according to a Palestinian spokesperson.
'Daily indignities'
Speaking after his meeting with Mr Abbas, which lasted slightly longer than scheduled, Mr Obama said there were "irritants" on both sides but direct negotiations were the best solution for Israel and the Palestinians.
"The Palestinian people deserve an end to occupation and the daily indignities that come with it," he said in Ramallah."The Palestinian people deserve an end to occupation and the daily indignities that come with it," he said in Ramallah.
On the troubled proposal for a two-state solution, he said: "I absolutely believe that it is still possible but I think it is very difficult." On the troubled proposal for a two-state solution, Mr Obama said: "I absolutely believe that it is still possible but I think it is very difficult.
"Put simply, Palestinians deserve a state of their own," he said."Put simply, Palestinians deserve a state of their own," he said.
He accepting the two sides had strong disagreements, but urged them to pursue an agreement nonetheless, saying: "I think we can keep pushing through some of these problems and make sure that we don't use them as an excuse not to do anything."He accepting the two sides had strong disagreements, but urged them to pursue an agreement nonetheless, saying: "I think we can keep pushing through some of these problems and make sure that we don't use them as an excuse not to do anything."
Mr Abbas said the Palestinian side expected Israel to stop building settlements if it wanted to engage in talks.Mr Abbas said the Palestinian side expected Israel to stop building settlements if it wanted to engage in talks.
Thanking the US administration for its continuing support for the Palestinian Authority, Mr Abbas said peace with Israel should not be achieved through violence, occupation, settlements, arrests or denial of refugee rights.Thanking the US administration for its continuing support for the Palestinian Authority, Mr Abbas said peace with Israel should not be achieved through violence, occupation, settlements, arrests or denial of refugee rights.
About 150 protesters were kept away from the Palestinian president's compound by police.About 150 protesters were kept away from the Palestinian president's compound by police.
Palestinians will be sceptical about Mr Obama's commitment to statehood as such words have been uttered before, the BBC's Jon Donnison reports from Ramallah. On Thursday morning, Israeli officials said two rockets were fired from Gaza into southern Israel, but there were no reports of anyone being hurt. A further two rockets fired from Gaza reportedly fell inside Gaza itself.
Mr Abbas condemned "violence against civilians, whatever its source, including the firing of rockets", according to a Palestinian spokesperson.
On Wednesday Mr Obama pledged America's strong support for Israel as he met Israeli Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu in Jerusalem.
The two leaders reaffirmed their commitment to a two-state solution.
Mr Obama said a central element of securing a lasting peace in the Middle East "must be a strong and secure Jewish state where its security concerns are met, alongside a sovereign and independent Palestinian state".
Mr Netanyahu said his new government, sworn in this week, remained "fully committed to peace and the solution of two states" and that he hoped Mr Obama's visit would "turn a page" in relations with the Palestinians.
'Daily indignities'
Palestinians, however, will be sceptical about Mr Obama's commitment to statehood as such words have been uttered before, the BBC's Jon Donnison reports from Ramallah.
In a 2009 speech in Cairo, Mr Obama called the situation for Palestinians "intolerable" and spoke of their "undeniable" suffering in pursuit of a homeland.In a 2009 speech in Cairo, Mr Obama called the situation for Palestinians "intolerable" and spoke of their "undeniable" suffering in pursuit of a homeland.
Since then, however, little has changed on the ground as the Middle East's most intractable conflict has been sidelined by the Arab Spring, and US-Israeli concern over Syria and Iran, our correspondent says.Since then, however, little has changed on the ground as the Middle East's most intractable conflict has been sidelined by the Arab Spring, and US-Israeli concern over Syria and Iran, our correspondent says.
Following Wednesday's talks in Jerusalem, Mr Netanyahu said his new government, sworn in earlier this week, remained "fully committed to peace and the solution of two states". Meanwhile, Iran's Supreme Leader has said his country would "annihilate" Israel it it ever launched an attack.
"We extend our hands in peace and friendship to the Palestinian people," he said, adding that he hoped Mr Obama's visit would "turn a page" in relations with the Palestinians. "We will raze Tel Aviv and Haifa to ground if Israel attacks us," said Ayatollah Ali Khamenei on Iranian state media.
But the two leaders also said they agreed that Israel had the right to "defend itself by itself". Iran and its nuclear programme, which Israel believes is a threat to its existence, has been a major topic of conversations during Mr Obama's visit.
He and Mr Netanyahu reaffirmed their commitment to preventing Iran from obtaining nuclear weapons, with the US president saying he still hoped the issue could be resolved with diplomacy, but repeating his assurances to Israel that he had not ruled out military action.
The two leaders said they agreed that Israel had the right to "defend itself by itself".
After his trip to the West Bank, Mr Obama is expected to deliver a speech to Israeli students in Jerusalem. He will leave for Jordan on Friday.After his trip to the West Bank, Mr Obama is expected to deliver a speech to Israeli students in Jerusalem. He will leave for Jordan on Friday.
Earlier on Thursday, the US leader visited the Israel Museum in Jerusalem with Mr Netanyahu to see the Dead Sea Scrolls.Earlier on Thursday, the US leader visited the Israel Museum in Jerusalem with Mr Netanyahu to see the Dead Sea Scrolls.
Security for his three-day visit is tight, with thousands of Israeli and Palestinian security officers on duty in Jerusalem and Ramallah, the Palestinians' de facto capital.Security for his three-day visit is tight, with thousands of Israeli and Palestinian security officers on duty in Jerusalem and Ramallah, the Palestinians' de facto capital.