FOX NEWS: Obama's stark declaration, which drew applause, was coupled with a call for Palestinians to end their "incitement of Israel."
In declaring that it is time for Middle East peace "without preconditions," President Obama used his speech to the U.N. General Assembly Wednesday to fire a warning at Israel that "America does not accept the legitimacy of continued Israeli settlements."
Obama's stark declaration, which drew applause, was coupled with a call for Palestinians to end their "incitement of Israel."
But it was the use of the U.N. forum to carry the settlement message to Israel that drew the most enthusiastic response on the floor -- and incredulous reaction outside its walls.
Obama just put Israel "on the chopping block," said former U.S. Ambassador to the U.N. John Bolton.
Obama said he met Tuesday with Palestinian Authority President Mahmoud Abbas and Israeli Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu, who was not in attendance at the speech, and agreed that the two have made some progress in both strengthening security and facilitating freedom of movement, which have allowed the economy in the West Bank to grow.
But more progress is needed, he said.
"We continue to call on Palestinians to end incitement against Israel, and we continue to emphasize that America does not accept the legitimacy of continued Israeli settlements," he said.
Obama said four issues separate the two sides: security, borders, refugees and Jerusalem, but the goal is clear: a secure, Jewish state for Israel and "a viable, independent Palestinian state with contiguous territory that ends the occupation that began in 1967."
He also said a new order is needed in dealing with the dispute.
"The United States does Israel no favors when we fail to couple an unwavering commitment to its security with an insistence that Israel respect the legitimate claims and rights of the Palestinians. And nations within this body do the Palestinians no favors when they choose vitriolic attacks over a constructive willingness to recognize Israel's legitimacy, and its right to exist in peace and security," he said.
In his first speech to the world body, Obama applied his campaign slogan to the international community and challenged the global community to step up and fix the world's problems both at home and abroad. >>> FOXNews.com | Wednesday, September 23, 2009
