Obama remains fully engaged in ending the Israel/Palestine conflict BUT says US can't impose peace- proximity talks should begin as soon as possible

US President Barack Obama (C) speaks during a trilateral meeting with Israeli
Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu (L) and President Mahmoud Abbas (R) at
the Waldorf Astoria in New York on 22 September 2009. [MaanImages/Omar Rashidi/POOL]

http://www.maannews.net/eng/ViewDetails.aspx?ID=276326

Report: Obama says US can't impose peace

Published today (updated) 14/04/2010 10:47

Bethlehem - Ma'an/Agencies - US President Barack Obama said Tuesday that Israelis and Palestinians may not be ready to resolve the conflict, in spite of pressure Washington exerts on the two sides, he told reporters after hosting a nuclear security summit.

Obama said he had little hope for progress toward Middle East Peace during a news conference, according to Reuters.

"The truth is in some of these conflicts the United States can't impose solutions unless the participants in these conflicts are willing to break out of old patterns of antagonism," he said.

US-brokered "proximity talks" were quickly derailed when Israel announced a settlement expansion plan during US Vice President Joe Biden's trip to the region in a bid to renew negotiations. Despite US condemnation, Israeli Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu is said to have given little ground over Israeli-only building on land occupied in 1967 during talks with Obama in Washington last month.

However, Obama said that despite frustration with the peace process, the US would press on, "constantly present, constantly engaged," the news agency reported.

"It's going to take time, and progress will be halting," he said. "And there will be frustrations."

"The Israeli people, through their government, and the Palestinian people, through the Palestinian Authority, as well as other Arab states may say to themselves, 'We are not prepared to resolve these issues no matter how much pressure the United States brings to bear,'" Obama said.

On Monday, Obama and Jordan's King Abdullah agreed on the sidelines of a Washington nuclear summit, that Palestinian and Israeli officials should immediately restart proximity talks, Israeli media reported.

"During these discussions, both agreed that Israeli-Palestinian proximity talks should begin as soon as possible, and transition quickly to direct negotiations," the White House said, according to the Israeli daily Haaretz. "They also agreed that both sides should refrain from actions that undermine trust during these talks."