Barack Obama said today that there was a window of opportunity to tackle the conflict between Israel and the Palestinians, but warned of mounting "hopelessness and despair" on both sides. "I think we have a window right now that needs to be taken advantage of," said Mr Obama in the rocket-battered southern Israeli town of Sderot. In a swipe at President George Bush's slowness to wade into the Middle East, he added: "I will not wait until a few years into my term or my second term if I am elected in order to get the process moving."
Barack Obama said today that there was a window of opportunity to tackle the conflict between Israel and the Palestinians, but warned of mounting "hopelessness and despair" on both sides.
"I think we have a window right now that needs to be taken advantage of," said Mr Obama in the rocket-battered southern Israeli town of Sderot.
In a swipe at President George Bush's slowness to wade into the Middle East, he added: "I will not wait until a few years into my term or my second term if I am elected in order to get the process moving."
Democratic presidential candidate Barack Obama said Wednesday it is in Israel's interest to achieve a lasting peace with the Palestinians, but he emphasized Israeli's right to defend itself. He also said that Jerusalem will be the capital of Israel, but that the issue should be settled through negotiation. "That's an issue that has to be dealt with the parties involved, the Palestinians and the Israelis, and it is not the job of the United States to dictate the form in which that will take, but rather to support the efforts that are being made right now to resolve these very difficult issues that have a long history," Obama said.
He also said that Jerusalem will be the capital of Israel, but that the issue should be settled through negotiation.
"That's an issue that has to be dealt with the parties involved, the Palestinians and the Israelis, and it is not the job of the United States to dictate the form in which that will take, but rather to support the efforts that are being made right now to resolve these very difficult issues that have a long history," Obama said.
Barack Obama today pledged his "unshakeable commitment to Israel's security" after a day of meetings with Israel's most senior leaders and a helicopter flight to a town targeted by rockets from Gaza.Most of the talks on his visit were dominated by the Israeli government's concern over Iran's nuclear ambitions -- a concern echoed by the Democratic presidential candidate. "A nuclear Iran would pose a grave threat and the world must prevent Iran from obtaining a nuclear weapon," Obama said.Obama also spoke of his hope for a Middle East peace agreement that would see the creation of a "viable and peaceful Palestinian state" alongside a secure Israel.The Illinois senator travelled in a heavily guarded convoy to Ramallah, in the occupied West Bank, where he met the Palestinian president, Mahmoud Abbas, and prime minister, Salam Fayyad. The one-hour meeting in the Palestinian territories - which came during a 36-hour visit to Israel - still managed to trump his Republican challenger for the White House, John McCain, who spoke to Abbas only by telephone during his trip to Israel in March.
Barack Obama today pledged his "unshakeable commitment to Israel's security" after a day of meetings with Israel's most senior leaders and a helicopter flight to a town targeted by rockets from Gaza.
Most of the talks on his visit were dominated by the Israeli government's concern over Iran's nuclear ambitions -- a concern echoed by the Democratic presidential candidate. "A nuclear Iran would pose a grave threat and the world must prevent Iran from obtaining a nuclear weapon," Obama said.
Obama also spoke of his hope for a Middle East peace agreement that would see the creation of a "viable and peaceful Palestinian state" alongside a secure Israel.
The Illinois senator travelled in a heavily guarded convoy to Ramallah, in the occupied West Bank, where he met the Palestinian president, Mahmoud Abbas, and prime minister, Salam Fayyad. The one-hour meeting in the Palestinian territories - which came during a 36-hour visit to Israel - still managed to trump his Republican challenger for the White House, John McCain, who spoke to Abbas only by telephone during his trip to Israel in March.
