The London Daily News

23 September, 2009 10:56 (GMT +00:00)

Obama underlines US opposition to Israeli illegal settlements

International Desk

President Obama used his first address to the United Nations General Assembly to condemn the continued policy by the Israelis of illegal settlement on Palestinian land in the West Bank, further highlighting the Whitehouse intention to oppose this highly provocative policy by Israel.

"we continue to emphasize that America does not accept the legitimacy of continued Israeli settlements."

In what has been billed as a significant speech for President Obama ahead of the G20 meeting in Pittsburgh the peace talks between the Arabs and Israel have failed to pickup up momentum with both sides accusing each other of unwillingness to move on key issues that include security, the future of Jerusalem and the recognition of Israel by Arab neighbouring states.

President Obama said:

"The goal is clear: two states living side by side in peace and security – a Jewish State of Israel, with true security for all Israelis; and a viable, independent Palestinian state with contiguous territory that ends the occupation that began in 1967, and realizes the potential of the Palestinian
people."

The Israeli government has been according to reports from Jerusalem been "working hard" to remove illegal settlements with extreme Jewish groups blocking any attempt:

The Jerusalem Post in a report said of the Israeli government:

"In its response to the Peace Now petition, the state has acknowledged that the houses were illegally built and that the government would remove them according to an order of priorities it had established for dismantling all illegal Jewish construction in the West Bank."

Text Comments

Post a Text Comment

There are currently no Item comments.