Palestinians deserve sovereign state, end to Israeli occupation - Obama

Barack Obama participates in a bilateral meeting with Palestinian President Mahmoud Abbas (R)

 at the Muqata Presidential Compound in Ramallah March 21, 2013 (Reuters / Jason Reed)

American President Barack Obama confirms the US is committed to creating two independent states, Israel and Palestine, whatever time it takes to reach the goal. Obama stressed direct talks between Palestinians and Israelis is the only way to do so.

Obama spoke at a news conference in the West Bank with Palestinian Authority President Mahmoud Abbas.

He confirmed the US is committed to creating two independent states, Israel and Palestine, however long it takes. Obama stressed direct talks between Palestinians and Israelis is the only way to reach the goal.

He says Palestinians should not have to confront the daily indignities that come with occupation.

Obama says the US needs a “viable and contiguous” Palestinian state co-existing alongside the state of Israel.

The US president condemned construction of new Israeli settlements on Palestinian territories.

"I told Mr. Netanyahu that it has been US policy not to consider settlement activity to be constructive, appropriate or advance the cause of peace,” criticized Obama.

Still, Obama acknowledged that Israeli politics is a complicated matter and that the issue of settlements cannot be “resolved overnight”.

"I want both sides [Israel and Palestine] to be doing what they can to build a sense of trust, and I hope that the US government will be helpful in that," Obama said.

Mahmud Abbas at the Muqata, the Palestinian Authority headquarters, in the West Bank city of Ramallah on March 21, 2013 (AFP Photo / Saul Loeb)

Palestinian Authority President Mahmoud Abbas added that "We never gave up our vision that settlement activity is illegal, that the Israeli government understands this. We hope they listen. We spoke about this with the president and we clarified this."

Abbas recalled that Israeli settlements are considered illegal also by the United Nations, which so far has issued “13 resolutions, not only condemning settlements, but demanding ending and removing them because they’re illegal.”

"We’re demanding nothing other than the implementation of international law," Abbas said, pointing out that the question of settlements is one of the biggest obstacles towards realization of a two-state solution.

Abbas said that the Palestinians recognize the state of Israel."We continue to recognize Israel according to the Road Map and the Arab Initiative,” he said.

Palestinian leader said he told President Obama that peace between the Palestinians and Israel cannot be achieved through violence, occupation, settlements, arrests or denial of refugee rights.
Despite the fact that the negotiation process between Israel and Palestine is stalled, no hope is lost and negotiation will continue.

“I absolutely believe that it is still possible, but I think it is very difficult,” Obama said.