Obama welcomes Bibi’s two-state speech

ERIC FINGERHUT 

WASHINGTON — The White House has welcomed Israeli Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu’s speech as an “important step forward”.¬†”The president is committed to two states, a Jewish state of Israel and an independent Palestine, in the historic homeland of both peoples,” White House press secretary Robert Gibbs said in a statement on Sunday.¬†”He believes this solution can and must ensure both Israel’s security and the fulfilment of the Palestinians’ legitimate aspirations for a viable state, and he welcomes Prime Minister Netanyahu’s endorsement of that goal.”

Netanyahu endorsed a Palestinian state, provided that Israel received assurances that the state would be demilitarised and the Palestinians recognized Israel as a Jewish state.¬†The Obama administration did not mention Netanyahu’s statement on West Bank settlements.¬†The White House has demanded that all Israeli settlement construction cease.¬†Netanyahu said Israel would not expand existing towns, but appeared to endorse natural growth by saying that settlers need to be able to live “normal lives.”

 

JTA