JEDDAH: Dr. Emad S. Shaat, Consul General of Palestine yesterday welcomed US President Obama’s unequivocal support for the establishment of an independent Palestinian state and his call for Israel to abide by its Road Map obligations, including a freeze on all Israeli settlement activity.
“Palestinians welcome the United State’s active reengagement in the Middle East peace process, and the president’s positive support for a wide ranging regional peace. President Obama gave voice to today’s international consensus that exists in support of the two-state solution and the establishment of an independent and sovereign Palestinian state,” the envoy said, quoting Chief Palestinian negotiator Saeb Erakat.
“Moving the Middle East peace process forward hinges on Israel implementing its obligations under existing agreements. Only a reversal in Israel’s policies on the ground can restore credibility to the peace process.”
“This includes an immediate and complete freeze on all settlement activity, including all natural growth, lifting all restrictions on Palestinian movement, and an immediate end to the siege on Gaza.”
On Benjamin Netanyahu’s demand that negotiations rest first on Palestinians recognizing Israel as a Jewish state, Erakat said: “The Palestine Liberation Organization has already recognized the state of Israel. Benjamin Netanyahu cannot even bring himself to endorse, let alone recognize a Palestinian state.
Adding new conditions to negotiations serves no other purpose than to stall any progress forward, and to save his government from having to deal with the real issues, namely Israel’s refusal to end its occupation, to abide by its obligations under existing agreements, and to unequivocally endorse the two-state solution.”
