Obama: Israeli Settlement Building Not Constructive To Peace

[Purveyor]

RAMALLAH, West Bank | Thu Mar 21, 2013 8:31am EDT

(Reuters) - President Barack Obama said on Thursday that settlement building in the occupied West Bank did not "advance the cause of peace", but stopped short of demanding a construction freeze to enable negotiations to resume.

Speaking at a joint news conference with Palestinian President Mahmoud Abbas, Obama said he remained committed to the creation of an "independent, viable and contiguous" Palestinian state, but said achieving that goal would not be easy.

"The core issue right now is how do we get sovereignty for the Palestinian people and security for Israeli people," he told reporters following almost two hours of talks with Abbas.

"That's not to say settlements aren't important. That's to say if we solve those two problems, the settlement issue will be resolved," he added.

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http://www.reuters.com/article/2013/03/21/us-israel-palestinians-obama-settlements-idUSBRE92K0H820130321

[geek tragedy]

1. Tough talk. I'm sure Bibi is sweating. nt

[Purveyor]

2. Yeah, right? eom

[forestpath]

3. As meaningful as one of his campaign speeches here.

[geek tragedy]

4. Much less. He actually delivered on things in his campaign

speeches here.