US president Barack Obama has called Israel to stop building settlements in the West Bank. He also asked Palestinians to halt incitement against Israel. "Each party has obligations under the road map. On the Israeli side those obligations include stopping settlements. They include making sure that there is a viable potential Palestinian state," stressed Obama. "I am confident that we can move this process forward," Obama said after meeting Palestinian president Mahmoud Abbas at the White House.
According to the AP, the US leader noted both sides must "meet the obligations that they've already committed to." "I have been a strong believer in a two-state solution that would provide the Israelis and Palestinians the peace and security that they need," Obama told reporters.
"It is our belief that the best way to achieve that is to create the conditions on the ground and set the stage for a Palestinian state as well," he said.
After the meeting with Obama, Abbas said no meetings with Israeli prime minister Benjamin Netanyahu were on the horizon. According to him, there were no preconditions just "obligations" on Israel. The Palestinian leader said he was meeting his commitments under the road map and that Israel should do the same.
© 2009 Al Bawaba (www.albawaba.com)
