jerusalem... the bone of contention

Lose-lose situation for the Palestinians, unfortunately.

(From the ABC)

Obama delivers first foreign policy speech

Posted 41 minutes ago


Barack Obama has insisted Jerusalem will remain the undivided capital of the Jewish state. (AFP: Emmanuel Dunand, file photo)

Video: Watch footage from Obama's first foreign policy speech (ABC News)
Barack Obama has toughened his terms for diplomacy with Iran and backed Israel's stance on Jerusalem, in his first foreign policy speech since capturing the Democratic nomination for US president.

He vowed to stop Iran from acquiring a nuclear weapon and insisted Jerusalem will remain the undivided capital of the Jewish state in a speech to the American Israel Public Affairs Committee (AIPAC), a pro-Israel lobby group.

Senator Obama, who clinched the nomination yesterday, has faced some wariness among Jewish voters over his commitment to Israel, buoyed in part by a rumour campaign suggesting he is a Muslim and that his advisers have a pro-Arab bent.

He vowed in his speech to work for peace with a Palestinian state alongside Israel.

His campaign has tried to dispel suggestions he might pressure Israel in negotiations more than his rival, Republican Senator John McCain.

"Let me be clear. Israel's security is sacrosanct. It is non-negotiable. The Palestinians need a state that is contiguous and cohesive, and that allows them to prosper," Senator Obama said.

"But any agreement with the Palestinian people must preserve Israel's identity as a Jewish state, with secure, recognised and defensible borders.

"Jerusalem will remain the capital of Israel and it must remain undivided."

Senator Obama's comments have drawn criticism from Palestinian president Mahmoud Abbas.

"We reject these words," he told journalists in the Palestinian political capital of Ramallah.

"Jerusalem is one of the files under negotiation. The entire world knows perfectly well that we will never accept a state without (east) Jerusalem (as its capital). That should be clear."

Top Palestinian negotiator Saeb Erakat also slammed Senator Obama.

"His remarks on Jerusalem cast doubt over the chances of peace," Mr Erakat said.

"We reject the positions of Barack Obama because they are in contradiction with the traditional positions of the United States which considers that east Jersualem is under occupation."

- Reuters