President Obama welcomed Israeli Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu to the White House May 18 to discuss the Middle East peace process, an important issue for any presidential administration.
It is in the interest “not only of the Palestinians but also the Israelis and the United States and the international community to achieve a two-state solution in which Israelis and Palestinians are
living side by side in peace and security,” Obama said following the meeting.
The United States has “historical ties, emotional ties,” to Israel, Obama said. “As the only true democracy in the Middle East, it is a source of admiration and inspiration for the American people.”
The two leaders also discussed Iran. “Iran obtaining a nuclear weapon would not only be a threat to Israel and a threat to the United States but would be profoundly destabilizing in the international community,” Obama said.
In the coming weeks, Obama will be meeting with Palestinian and Egyptian leaders to discuss Middle East issues. What role do you think the Obama administration should play in the Middle East peace process?
Comments (34)
K.M.Nirmal
18 May 2009 at 18:29 EDT
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Toe the usual American line , as it hardly matters .
K.M.Nirmal
18 May 2009 at 18:30 EDT
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Toe the usual American line asit hardly matters
Firman
19 May 2009 at 00:07 EDT
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Mr obama,your effort is truely good to me…But u have to makesure the consideration of belonging authority for nuclear issue to any countries must be comprehensively fair to all..I believe that you can do it…It’s only defending agenda,not a war as you feel before…TQ
s.srihari
19 May 2009 at 03:12 EDT
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Dear President i congrajulate you for assuming the charges as 44th president of United states of America and I wish you good luck and I have to say a few Please stop funding world bank funds in India most of the projects are hijacked else corrupted I request you to look into this matter. Moreover there is no employment opportunities were created.
with best
hari
Wish you good luck and god bless you
George Fadel
19 May 2009 at 04:35 EDT
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While I admire Mr. Obama’s stance and desire to push for peace in the Middle East, I do not understand the fixation of the US administration on the two state solution. I do think that we have neglected the Middle East for too long under the Bush administration, and this has led to further tensions and deeper divisions, so any move is more than welcome. Thank you President Obama.
I do believe that the two state solution may in the short term give the two parties some room to breathe and reflect, long term, it leads unfortunately to deadlock and more violence.
I do not believe we would ever be able to quell the anger, desperation and feeling of exploitation that the Palestinans feel without giving them full access to the land of their fathers and forefathers. I also do not think that Israelis will ever leave this land they believe was given to them by God.
For me the only solution is to force both parties to live together in a true democratic state. In spite of all the rethoric, Israel is not a democratic state since a large portion of its population, namely the Palestinians, are not given any political say or position. I do understand the fear of the Israelis to be overtaken by the Arab population, but i blame them for creating this situation by denying education, jobs, security, political say to that segment of the population.
The US should really try to be more even handed, and insist of bringing both sides together. Compensate displaced Palestinians by providing them with resources to educate their children, give them the option to go back to Palestine or be integrated in other communities worldwide, training them for jobs and giving them a way out of their miseries. I really believe that given the opportunity to return or to succeed wherever they are, the majority of displaced Palestinians may want to be able to go back to Israelo/Palestine, but would stay where they have a job and a future.
Israel also needs to have the Arab market open to be able to survive without US subsidies. This may happen through political pressures, but the population would always be opposed to this unless a totally different policy of openness is pursued.
I wish the President and his team good luck in dealing with this thorny problem.
s.claus
19 May 2009 at 06:30 EDT
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OBAMA, PLEASE REMAIN FIRM WITH ISRAEL. THEY MUST ACCEPT THAT NEW SETTLEMENTS ARE OUT OF THE QUESTION. SO IS THEIR REFUSAL, TO LET THE PALESTINIANS LIVE WITHIN THEIR OWN 4 WALLS, AS IT WERE, WITHOUT INTERFERENCE FROM ISRAEL.
Natalia Roschina
19 May 2009 at 07:28 EDT
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Hello from Japan,
Sorry if this does not belong here. They say on the news that the drug industry is not geared up for manufacturing the flu vaccine, but the car industry’s production line is not that much in production any more.
I think the production line at the car industry could be readjusted to produce the vaccine for the drug industry, and reduce government spending on bailing out the industry.
I wrote details on the blog:
http://www.it-for-all.com/health-for-all/blog/2009/05/futures_intuition_idea_for_flu.html
Please pass it on to people who are good with futurist ideas, and think outside the box. Thank you!
Kind regards,
Natalia Roschina
CHRISTIAN MBOHO
19 May 2009 at 09:33 EDT
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President OBAMA is a gift to the world.
His peace process is laudable. However he should do his best and for peace to reign, the issue of poverty must be addressed. I have come to know that CHARITY DOES NOT ALLEVIATE POVERTY. Steps should be taken in this direction. I pray for my President for God to guide him.
Oshoriame
19 May 2009 at 10:50 EDT
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This is very good i wish i could send it out
Robin mosigis
19 May 2009 at 14:23 EDT
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Congratulations president obama. Meditating the middle east wrangles is the first mark of peace.Let all leaders of the world join hands and way-lay terms to advocate 4 peace always.
Sriprakash, editor-in-chief, North East News Network, Guwahati(Assam), India.
20 May 2009 at 04:28 EDT
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Dear President,
Israel and all the countries of world should do work together for the peace and prosperity for human beings. It is only possible when you will initiate for that. Because, GOD has given u the power to lead the whole world. I think the time comes when u should bring the all the countries of world under your umbrella. I am very happy to feel that you are the most powerfull leader of world, whose will power is also for the restoration of peace and prosperity.
Sorry for my poor English.
Thanking You….
Toby Ziegler
20 May 2009 at 09:24 EDT
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I just read on OliveTreeNews how Israel can attack Iran when given green light from Obama - http://www.olivetreenews.com
baer
20 May 2009 at 22:45 EDT
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Thank you so much Mr. President of Peace, for you sincerity and dedication to appease world. Do your best, God will do the rest!
Machangsedap
20 May 2009 at 23:45 EDT
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I lauded George Fadel for his candid comments. Obama should stop thinking that he could bring the peace when America and Israel keep oppressing the Palestinian people and denying their right to their ancestor land that is now being occupied by the Israel nation. This action will only breed more hatred and more violence. Be fair to other and they will treat you equally. When you oppressing people, there will come a time when they can no longer stand it and start to fight back , by time these people will be better organized. America and Israel has created these groups of people who are willing to use violence to fight back. Fighting and killing are good for weapons industry but not for the survival and the peace of our human race. Stop being hypocrite and you will find the true peace .
Michael Kerjman
20 May 2009 at 23:54 EDT
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Responding to an article’s question, your modest blog follower would say the role is usual-a guarantee for b o t h Israel’s existence a n d calm on boundaries between the Jewish state and in-process-of-establishing newly Arab state of Palestine-the PA.
Marry G.
23 September 2009 at 20:19 EDT
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Star answer as usual, Mr. M. Kerjman!
Long live America, long live wisdom of Americans and American President B. Obama!
FIRMAN
21 May 2009 at 00:07 EDT
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First of all..,thank you to Mr Obama and the administration team of the effort to meet Palestinians and Egyption leaders to discuss Middle East issues.
So, any decision make to Palestinians and Israelis authority has base on the fact and the history before they come to middle east. I know it’s sounds some anger to another party, but if we think and when we back to the history, who has the longest colonial background of middle east before?
From that, I believe if you consider all the decisions back to the history of Palestinians/Israelis, more than 90% stressed condition will be solve….TQ
محمدعبدالعزيزالمغازى
21 May 2009 at 00:55 EDT
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الى حبيبنا اوباما وممثلته الملائكية
اخيرا وليس اخرا مرحبتين باوباما وزيارته اللى كل المصريين فرحانين بيها ولهم حق فهو اصله ابن لقارتنا …….. ورسالة مصر الي السفيرة الامريكية اللى عينيها تبث نظرة بصحيح كلها حنية بل وملائكية ان تكلف خاطرها وتبص على خريطة تقسيم فلسطين سنة 47 ….. وتقول لنا رأيها : بذمتك ياملاك ده تقسيم ام اعداد لمقاطعات حروب دائمة :: بذمتك اللى عملوها عندهم دم ولو كان عندهم هل بينهم كان عاقل واحد ولو كانوا كلهم عاقلين فكم واحد منهم ليس خبيث ابن خبيث ابن خبيثة وتربيته كانت كلها خبث فى خبث ::::: وهذا يدعونى للقول ان ال 33 دولة اللى وافقت عليها اما كانوا خبثاء او انهم جبناء او جهلاء ……………… انا منتظر رأيك ورأى اوباما بعد ما تشرحى له صورة التقسيم وانت ماسكة الخريطة امام عينيه …… انا شخصيا اقول مؤكدا ان من صمم ووقع على تلك الخريطة من دول وقيادات اما جهلة فعليكم تصحيح جهلهم واما جبناء فعليكم محو جبنهم واما خبثاء فامحوا خبثهم حتى لا تكونوا مثلهم ….. فيكون وراء تلك العيون الملائكية عيون اخرى اعف ان اذكرك بها لاننى حتى الان مازلت ارى ملائكية نظرتك
بصراحة ياحبيبتى تقسيم مزرى مزرى مفضوح جدا
انا فى انتظار مقابلتك لاوباما بارض مصر وليس مقابلة اوباما لمبارك ، ويكون معاك خريطة التقسيم وكفاية انك تقولى له رأيك ، فهل سيصحح الحق حقا ام باطلا يستمر وتعللوه بارهاب ، والشعوب لا تقل ذكاء ابدا.
Ashraf Al-Anany
21 May 2009 at 02:54 EDT
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Obama already had good intentions , but good intentions are not enough to move the situation - http://alanany.wordpress.com/
Ervin Y Kedar , Prof.
21 May 2009 at 08:25 EDT
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The best way (only way) to settle the Israeli/Palestinian issue is by establishing a
United States of Israel and Palestine -USIP
a political condominium that received the blessings of the two late leaders :Rabin and Arafat.
for details:www.hopeways.org
English>peace voices>USIP
Two goverments and mutual sovereignity over the whole Holy Land and Jerusalem, coexistence in one homeland, enjoying equal rights without any discriminations.
nazir ahmad bhat
21 May 2009 at 10:32 EDT
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as of today the isreali prime minstr held two state theory stupid and childish.i understand that it was clear message to the president obamea that isreal does not recognise any kind ofchange which president obama wants to make in the world so for the isreal is concerned.president obama is doing the cosmetic service in relation to plestine as was done by the president bush which even ordinary muslims understand.we hope many changes wld come during obama adminstration in the world except any chage in plestine viz viz isreal. and in terms of histry plestine shall change their fate all by themselves to the surprise of world.thx
emmanuel
31 May 2009 at 09:26 EDT
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It is a good mentor in our generation, that we have someone like this.
thanks
Michael Kerjman
31 May 2009 at 20:16 EDT
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ما هو أكثر أهمية : خريطة مصائر الناس ، أو استخدام هذه الخريطة محليا؟
Adi Levy
2 June 2009 at 15:06 EDT
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Dear mr.Obama and all the talkbackers,
i am a worried israeli citizen,and i want to tell you why.you can not conceive the real problem over here.look what is hapening all over the world.take notice that in every country with security problems it usually comes from islamic fondementalist!
chechnia?kashmir?indonesia?afghanistan?iraq?iran?lebanon/hizbala?egypt?hamas?sudan?el kaida? burma?pakistan?great britian?united states of america? 9/11 remember? do you have any idea how it is living with NEIGHBORS who really want to kill you?everyday?everywhere?they do not want to talk like there quiet mainstreem brothers,instead they kill them too…
i have palestien friends who i respect and honor,we work together and eat together,they will tell you the same thing ,the problems come from the islamic fondementalists,that are brainwashed by there islamic religious leaders.
OBAMA, ask MUBARAK about them, ask muhamad abas about what they did to him in Gaza a few years ago,ask the king of JORDAN about september 1970,ask gandi from india,etc.
PLEASE, DO NOT BE RIGHT - B E S M A R T!
FIRMAN
10 June 2009 at 23:17 EDT
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Back to your respond. I’m not angry with the statement you told to everybody,moreover I really appreciate it. Actually Fundamentals of Islam teach us the peace and struggling to get the peace must be somebody that we believe with,include Muslims or Israelis Leaders.They must be Knowledgeable enough in make the decision and very particular when react.Muslims like me is very open to work with as long as they can work with us honestly.The problem now is we have to build up the relationship between us(if you’re people accept), the faithful, and honesty in any way we do.We’re very open for helping everybody who need assistance include peace situation.No more showing off who is the most powerful in Middle east.And I believe it will get a good effect to middle east country.We can not accept whoever never respect the authority of land and whatsoever.It’s very hard to get along until we sit and discuss this matter by using the way you say “Please Do Not Be Right - But Be Smart! “AND without killing innocent people anymore.TQ.
peace/love/good on earth
Location: earth my home
16 June 2009 at 18:17 EDT
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mr obama please do NOT send our tax money to countries like Israel and saudi arabia or china. we need to help the poor americans and educate our children
in OUR nation first.
NO TO ISRAEL AND NO TO SAUDI ARABIA
NO TO CHINA .
PEACE AND NOT WAR ON EARTH
abraham isaac
12 June 2009 at 10:31 EDT
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ISRAEL DOES NOT BELONG TO THE
JEWS OR MUSLIMS OR CHRISTIANS OR
ARAB OR NON ARAB OR JEW OR NON JEW
IT ALL BELONGS TO GOD ALMIGHTY ONLY !!!
abraham isaac
12 June 2009 at 10:33 EDT
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PEACE AND LOVE AND A LOTS OF GOOD
PRAYERS THE ONLY WAY
abraham isaac
30 June 2009 at 08:10 EDT
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zionist and jews and arabs and muslims and non jews and non zionist and christans and all who live in this land of israel must know it does NOT
belong to them …
IT ALL BELONGS TO GOD ALMIGHTY .
WE ALL GO BACK TO GOD ALMIGHTY
EVERTHING AND EVERYONE ON THIS EARTH WILL RETURN TO GOD ALMIGHTY
SaipsMoisaswerroldep
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21 August 2009 at 06:07 EDT
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Not at all! You are welcome!
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