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Obama says US backs independent Palestinian state Obama urges Palestinians to drop settlement precondition
(about 2 hours 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 urged Palestinians to drop their demands for a freeze in Israeli settlement building as a precondition for peace talks.
Speaking after talks with Palestinian leader Mahmoud Abbas, he said Israeli settlement activity was not "appropriate for peace". Speaking in Ramallah after talks with Palestinian President Mahmoud Abbas, Mr Obama said 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. He stressed his commitment to a two-state solution, but said both sides may have to "push through" disagreements.
Mr Abbas said the talks in Ramallah had been "good and useful". Later, he told Israelis they had a "partner for peace" in Mr Abbas.
However, Palestinian expectations of Mr Obama's visit have been low, analysts say. In a speech to students in Jerusalem, he said Israel was "at a crossroads", but must "reverse an undertow of isolation" and recognise that compromise was necessary for peace.
The three-day visit is Mr Obama's first to Israel and the West Bank as president. "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".
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. 'Peace is possible'
"The Palestinian people deserve an end to occupation and the daily indignities that come with it," he said in Ramallah. Mr Obama's three-day visit to Israel and the West Bank is his first as president.
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. The building of Israeli settlements on Palestinian land has been the major stumbling block in the peace process, with Palestinians long insisting it must stop completely before stalled talks can restart.
"Put simply, Palestinians deserve a state of their own," he said. Mr Obama has previously backed that view and told reporters in Ramallah on Thursday that "we do not consider continued settlement activity to be constructive, to be appropriate, to be something that can advance the cause of peace".
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." But he added: "If the expectation is that we can only have direct negotiations when everything is settled ahead of time, then there is no point for negotiations."
Mr Abbas said the Palestinian side expected Israel to stop building settlements if it wanted to engage in talks. While there were "irritants on both sides", such problems could not be used "as an excuse to do nothing", he said.
"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.
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.
Later in Jerusalem, Mr Obama told a student audience that the only way for Israel to thrive as a Jewish, democratic state was through the realisation of an independent and viable Palestinian state.
He said peace was necessary, just and possible, and that Mr Abbas and Palestinian Authority Prime Minister Salam Fayyad were "true partners" for peace.
Mr Obama was heckled as he spoke - but responded by saying it was part of the "lively debate" in Israel.
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.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.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.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.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". Iran threats
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.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.
Meanwhile, Iran's Supreme Leader has said his country would "annihilate" Israel it it ever launched an attack. Meanwhile, Iran's Supreme Leader Ayatollah Ali Khamenei has said his country would "raze Tel Aviv and Haifa to ground if Israel attacks", Iranian state media report.
"We will raze Tel Aviv and Haifa to ground if Israel attacks us," said Ayatollah Ali Khamenei on Iranian state media. Iran and its nuclear programme, which Israel believes is a threat to its existence, has been a major topic during Mr Obama's visit.
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. On Wednesday, 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.
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".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. Before travelling to the West Bank on Thursday, the US leader visited the Israel Museum in Jerusalem with Mr Netanyahu to see the Dead Sea Scrolls. 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.
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.