JERUSALEM: Israeli government spokesman says Israel shares U.S. President Barack Obama's hopes

Record ID: 395982

  • Title: JERUSALEM: Israeli government spokesman says Israel shares U.S. President Barack Obama's hopes
  • Date: 5th June 2009
  • Summary: JERUSALEM (JUNE 4, 2009) (REUTERS) ISRAELI GOVERNMENT SPOKESPERSON MARK REGEV STANDING REGEV'S HANDS (SOUNDBITE) (English) ISRAELI GOVERNMENT SPOKESPERSON MARK REGEV SAYING: "Israel shares the hope expressed by President Obama that his efforts will indeed lead to a new period of peace and reconciliation in the Middle East, a period where Israel will be recognised as a
  • Embargoed: 20th June 2009 13:00
  • Keywords:
  • Topics: International Relations
  • Reuters ID: LVAB1FNXBXNK54Z997JTZIPD32D7
  • Story Text: Israeli government spokesman Mark Regev says Israel "shares the hope" expressed by U.S. President Barack Obama, after the U.S. president's Cairo speech to the world's Muslims.
    The Israeli government responded to U.S. President Barack Obama's speech to Muslims on Thursday (June 4) by saying it shared his hopes for Middle East peace.
    "Israel shares the hope expressed by President Obama that his efforts will indeed lead to a new period of peace and reconciliation in the Middle East, a period where Israel will be recognised as a Jewish state and that we can live without fear of violence and terrorism. Israel is willing to play our part to achieve that goal," said Israel's government spokesperson Mark Regev after Obama's address in Cairo.
    Regev made no mention of Jewish settlements, which Obama said should not be expanded, nor Palestinian statehood.
    At odds with Obama, Israeli Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu has said that construction would continue in existing settlements in the West Bank and he has not publicly endorsed a two-state solution to the Israeli-Palestinian conflict.
    Netanyahu, who heads a right-leaning government, has said Israel's security considerations are key in the pursuit of peace with the Palestinians and that any entity they establish must be demilitarised and have limited powers of sovereignty.
  • Copyright Holder: REUTERS
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