UNITED NATIONS (AP) — President Barack Obama is exhorting the world to unite around the Israeli-Palestinian peace process, challenging the United Nations to support an agreement that would create an independent Palestine and a secure Israel in a year’s time.
In a speech to the annual session of the U.N. General Assembly on Thursday, Obama will call on world leaders to cast aside decades of division over the conflict, overcome cynicism and prove their support for a settlement to be reached by the two sides that his administration is now pushing against long odds.
Without a deal, he will say, “more blood will be shed” and “this Holy Land will remain a symbol of our differences, instead of our common humanity,” according to portions of the text released by the White House in advance of the speech.
“If an agreement is not reached, Palestinians will never know the pride and dignity that comes with their own state,” he says. “Israelis will never know the certainty and security that comes with sovereign and stable neighbors who are committed to coexistence.”
The excerpts released by the White House dealt only with the Israeli-Palestinian conflict and made no mention of other foreign policy initiatives that Obama is expected to champion in his full remarks. The emphasis underscored the urgency of overcoming hurdles that he has met less than a month after relaunching direct negotiations between the parties.
Palestinian President Mahmoud Abbas is threatening to walk out of the talks if Israel does not extend a slowdown on construction of Jewish settlements in the West Bank that is set to expire next week. Israeli Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu has said he will not extend that partial freeze.
The looming expiration appears to have stalled the negotiations, which got under way in early September in Washington between Abbas and Netanyahu and then moved to a second round in Egypt and in Jerusalem last week. That second round ended inconclusively with little visible progress and without an expected announcement of a third session.
Secretary of State Hillary Rodham Clinton and the administration’s special Middle East peace envoy George Mitchell have been meeting with officials from both sides and other interested parties this week in New York to press the agenda forward but seem to have made little headway.
So, faced with the real possibility of the collapse of negotiations, Obama is imploring the international community to get behind the idea of peace and forget age-old alliances to one side or the other.
“Those of us who are friends of Israel must understand that true security for the Jewish state requires an independent Palestine,” he will say. “And those of us who are friends of the Palestinians must understand that the rights of the Palestinian people will be won only through peaceful means — including genuine reconciliation with a secure Israel.”
Israel, along with numerous U.S. administrations, has long accused the United Nations of being a forum for anti-Israeli activity. Obama laments that many member states have allowed the institution to become an echo chamber of criticism and condemnation without addressing the real need for peace or its requirements.
“Many in this hall count themselves as friends of the Palestinians,” he was to say. “But these pledges must now be supported by deeds.”
Among those deeds are providing financial support from Arab states to the Palestinian Authority and preparing those in Muslim world for an eventual deal that will see their countries at peace with Israel.
Obama was to urge the U.N. in its 60th year to look beyond past Middle East peace failures and get on with the task at hand.
“We can come back here, next year, as we have for the last 60, and make long speeches about it,” he was to say. “We can read familiar lists of grievances. We can table the same resolutions. We can further empower the forces of rejectionism and hate.”
“We can do that,” he was to say. “Or, we can say that this time will be different, that this time we will not let terror or turbulence or posturing or petty politics stand in the way.
“This time, we should draw upon the teachings of tolerance that lie at the heart of three great religions that see Jerusalem’s soil as sacred. This time we should reach for what’s best within ourselves. If we do, when we come back here next year, we can have an agreement that will lead to a new member of the United Nations — an independent state of Palestine, living in peace with Israel.”
Obama’s speech was his second to the world body and comes amid a three-day U.N.-dominated trip to New York, where the president will also meet privately with the leaders of China, Japan, Colombia, Azerbaijan and Kyrgyzstan. In addition, he will host Southeast Asian leaders and attend a meeting aimed at preventing renewed civil war in Sudan.
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Comments (78)
Rn mom
Posted on September 23, 2010 at 9:30amAll I can say is: I hope Sara Silverman is proud of herself. Making TV commercials urging all Jews to unite and vote for Obama- She contributed to the sale of American values and the loss of the Jewish homeland. What a ninny!!!
Report Post »BurntHills
Posted on September 23, 2010 at 11:06amin WWII there was a fitting name for people like this unfunny hag == COLLABORATORS.
Report Post »captaindon53
Posted on September 23, 2010 at 9:29amThat’s a good one! from NOT one of Americas own who believes he is the new world leader. as they say if your going to have delusions of grandeur you or in this case Obama may as well go for the really big ones. If i were in congress i would have gone for Obama’s removal on his own words long ago and here is why. Hear the truth from Obama’s own mouth. Play the Video.
Report Post »http://loveforlife.com.au/content/10/07/13/video-not-natural-born-truth-matters-barack-obama-10-minutes-58-seconds-re-presiden
Psychosis
Posted on September 23, 2010 at 11:34amstop putting edited crap in here…. you can tell this is fake video Obama still sucks though :)
Report Post »Rob502nd
Posted on September 23, 2010 at 9:24amI am sooooo tired of this man messing up the whole country and now that we are burning it’s time to set the rest of the world on fire…..He reminds me of Heath Ledger playing the Joker…
As to Democritters and the Palistiniens its pretty simple…all the nut-job terrorits out there say that the reason they hate and attack us is because we back Israel. Its nothing more than appesement on the Democrooks part.
Report Post »mtnclimberjim
Posted on September 23, 2010 at 9:23ambarry needs to concern his half white ass with the issuse at home and quit trying to teach the rag heads ebonics. Harsh, harsh
Report Post »BurntHills
Posted on September 23, 2010 at 11:05ambarry sotero needs to go back to chicago or indonesia, where he says he was HAPPIEST.
Report Post »tadroid
Posted on September 23, 2010 at 9:15amObama will push for Muslim beach heads everywhere in the world. Giving Palestine another state is paramount to giving the South back to the Rebels. They started a fight that they lost, and now they want it all back. Hey, how about give Jerusalem back to the Crusaders while we’re at it?
Report Post »BurntHills
Posted on September 23, 2010 at 10:53amplease leave teh Southern States and their history and descendants out of anything so heinous as the islamic take-over of israel or America, as 3/4s the Ameican military ENLISTED VOLUNTEERS (NOT DRAFTees) come from below the Mason-ixon line TO DEFEND YOU.
should America be attacked an dinvaded within her at home, her DEFENDERS will be good ol’ Bubba and his shotguns rushing to YOUR defense.
Report Post »BurntHills
Posted on September 23, 2010 at 11:04amthe South and her “rebels” are the ones who will be rushing to the fight UP NORTH to defend YOU when the obama “private civilian security force” and its ACORN ghetto goons come to disarm and imprison YOU.
“the South” and her “rebels” are now nationwide and have always been AMERICANS. The South was invaded by the North and forced to stay in the Union, when all they wanted was to secede. The South wasn’t “given back” to her residents because it was never TAKEN from her residents. They just laid down their guns and went back to burned out homes and farms and their raped or slaughtered wives and daughters and started being UNITED AMERICANS again.
Report Post »Tatum
Posted on September 23, 2010 at 9:15amSee Obama’s hands? Hid 8 inches is really 3-1/2
Report Post »mtnclimberjim
Posted on September 23, 2010 at 9:10ambarry sure is a lover of the muzies and mexicans. Sure wish he gave a rip about the USA, Come on revolution.
Report Post »megansmom
Posted on September 23, 2010 at 9:07amThere will never be true peace for Isreal. All of her neighbors want her dead and that’s a fact.
Report Post »starman70
Posted on September 23, 2010 at 9:06amOf course he(Obama) will press for a Palestinian state. What more can you expect from a biblically ignorant Moslem sympathizer. Obama doesn’t have a clue that Jerusalem and the land being occupied by the “Palestinians”, almost none of whom actually originated in that area, was given to the Jewish Nation in perpetuity by GOD. In 1948, they the Jewish people regained their birthright and were allowedn to return to THEIR land. The FIG bush flowered and Isiah’s dry bones became alive again.
Obama’s lack on the knowledge of history is patenely evident. Before 1948, the area known as Palestine was sparsely populated at best. The land was, for the most part unproductive amd dry. When the Jewish people returned in 1948, they (With GOD’s help) brought technology with them and began to transform the region into a fertile and productive land. The majority of the “Palestinians” came to the region from surrounding Arab countries looking for work. Some, however, like Arafat and the Hamas leadership anlon with Hezbolla came to disrupt Israel and murder the Jews.
As a matter of fact, again something of which Obama is totally ignorant of, the name PALESTINE was given to the region in 70AD after the Romans destroyed Israel and dispursed the people. The name Palestine is the Roman version of Philistine and the Romans named the area Palestine as an ultimate insult to the Jewish people.The Philistines were Israel’s most hated enemy over the course of history so what better insult could the Romans have devised.
If Obama and the rest of the U.N. lackeys would study the true history of the region, they would not be trying to devide Jerusalem. They would not be pushing for a Palestinian state. If anything, they would be working to resettle all these so called refugees in the surrounding arab countries.
If they ever succeed in this nefarious paln to devide Jerusalem, watch out! These idiots don‘t realize it but YOU DON’T MESS WITH GOD OR HIS PEOPLE!
Report Post »clearwaterpro
Posted on September 23, 2010 at 1:26pmI enjoyed your short history. Most people are unaware of the facts that you presented. It boils down to Obama being the most anti-Israel and Muslim-sympathizing president (NO, I will not capitalize president) in history. And, as we all know, the squeaky wheel gets the grease. In the past, whenever a special interest group caused a controversy, at least there was :
Report Post »A. Some semblance of a “right” and a “wrong”,
B. A desire to appease our greatest ally in the Mideast,
C. An attempt to build on the precedent established by 11 prior administrations.
Now, all that has been replaced by a desire to garner votes. Obama isn’t acting on behalf of Americans OR on what is right or wrong. He is courting votes; Muslim votes along with all the hyphenators (latino-american, african-american, etc.). Perhaps we should all start hyphenating ourselves and create special interest groups for each. I should form an Idahoan-Irish-American special interest group and demand entitlements and reparations because my ancestors were oppressed. Does anyone else see the insanity of that? Have you ever begun to discuss issues logically with a liberal and witnessed their eyes glaze over? Their only defense is to change the meaning of words. “He who defines the terms wins the argument”–Dean Gotcher. “Liberalism is a virus–Progressivism is evil”. OK, I’ll stop my rant, but Starman70, thanks.
Amerigo Vespucci
Posted on September 23, 2010 at 9:06amI’m certain that Obama believes that Israel can “absorb” terrorist attacks just like we can. I’m certain that Israel is not be willing to be the sponge. An attack on Israel like the one we had here on 9/11 and you can say “goodbye” to Iran…
Report Post »zippy
Posted on September 23, 2010 at 9:05amWe need General Pershing back. We need someone with a set of balls and Im not talking about Pelosi or Hillary.
Report Post »zippy
Posted on September 23, 2010 at 9:02amThis guy is as much a christian as ole akmedenagag. This is the best president palestine ever had.
Report Post »Think of his as ohhhh lets say the Palestinian Czar to America.
Meyvn
Posted on September 23, 2010 at 9:00amThis doesn’t make sense. Why bother with creating another nation state when a new global order is the ultimate goal. The new nation state would just soon get gobbled up by the elite’s precious NWO. Sounds like a waste of time, effort and money to me.
Report Post »aesaac
Posted on September 23, 2010 at 8:56amvote on this now! before it is too late! the mantra of failure and regret. you can vote all you want about anything you want. but israel is a soverign nation that will not put its citizens in harms way over the ruminations of a diplomatic dilletant.
Report Post »Ahcma
Posted on September 23, 2010 at 8:56amIt’s amazing that Obama is talking about “Tolerance” when he consistently disses Bebe (and all others who are our “real” allies. When Obama decides to finally believe what he says instead of saying what he wants others to believe, then maybe we can start to get some of the respect we used to have back. We need a Regan back.
Report Post »tadroid
Posted on September 23, 2010 at 9:12amUnfortunately, if Obama really said what he means, he would be impeached and tried for treason. Remember, he has an Ivy League education, so he knows the art duplicity and deception.
Report Post »grnhrn
Posted on September 23, 2010 at 8:53amAnd I thought the geneva accord established a territory for palestine who immediatly continued their assault on israel. Jewish people settled that land in what 4000 B.C. According to dead sea scrolls. But hey I agree let’s set up a palestinian land I volunteer all the land surrounding davy jones locker and they can have helen thomas as their den mother.
Report Post »Hugh Williams
Posted on September 23, 2010 at 8:51amI am still amazed at the way history is forgotten and rewritten. Most people don’t remember or were never taught the true history of the creation of Israel. With a little research you can learn a lot. You would think professional journalist could do this themselves. A search on Wikipedia for the creation of Israel reveals “In November 1947, the United Nations voted in favor of the partition of Palestine, proposing the creation of a Jewish state, an Arab state, and a UN-administered Jerusalem.[16] Partition was accepted by Zionist leaders but rejected by Arab leaders, leading to civil war.” The Palestinians could have had their own state in 1947. Their leaders chose not to. I am sure this is not taught in any government run school.
Report Post »Amerigo Vespucci
Posted on September 23, 2010 at 8:49amAgree to Iran’s request (demand) to be placed on the UN’s Nuclear Counsel and this proble should work itself out in about 18-24 months.
Report Post »drhunt
Posted on September 23, 2010 at 8:45amWash, rinse, repeat…Obama mirrors Jimmy “The Peanut Man” Carter…in more ways than one.
Report Post »ireality
Posted on September 23, 2010 at 8:41amPolice say there were no injuries or damage caused by a chemical bomb that went off in a parking lot near the Islamic Society …
Portland Police say Islamic elders came forward to tell them that a 13 year old from the Islamic Society of Portland was experimenting and was responsible for the bomb. Another bomb was also found undetinated.
Hey man someone’s blowing us up.
Report Post »winterhawka7ac
Posted on September 23, 2010 at 8:39amAnd I will assume that this clown will again apologize for how bad we are. I will not watch his anti American rhetoric.
Report Post »heidi586
Posted on September 23, 2010 at 8:32amThe world’s president has spoke,,,now do it! It would be nice if there could be peace – but the evil/hate runs in the hearts of many/most Palestinians. Until Hamas is dealt with and eliminated there will never be peace.
Report Post »ruffnex
Posted on September 23, 2010 at 10:55amYou wrote what I*’ve been thinking……“The WORLD president”…..He has high ambitions!
Report Post »Psychosis
Posted on September 23, 2010 at 8:31amI see no peace in the middle east because a political/religious has vowed to remove isreal from the face of the earth.
Why does the world have a hard time taking the Muslim world at their word?
I believe it is because of a big misconception tha Islam is just a religion and most people dont realize it is so much more. It is a political religious way of life….not just a religion and not just a political ideal.
Report Post »30moves
Posted on September 23, 2010 at 8:49amIslam is the only religion that doesn’t get along with other religions.
Report Post »sweetbees
Posted on September 23, 2010 at 8:55am30Moves, IMHO, radical Islam isn’t even a religion…it is a cult! Any “religion” that demands you join up and if you don’t you die, is a cult!!
Report Post »TrueGrit
Posted on September 23, 2010 at 10:12amRead the Koran, folks.
Report Post »It‘s all there and it’s not pretty for any other RELIGION.
Marylou7
Posted on September 23, 2010 at 8:31amSo Israel is suppose to be tolerant! Mr. Obama you need to get a clue. The Palestinians want Israel gone from the face of the earth. Israel has been nothing but tolerant. May God Almighty continue to protect and guide Israel.
Report Post »sweetbees
Posted on September 23, 2010 at 8:50amThat is right Marylou and if Clueless Commander in Chief is the “christian” he claims he is, he would know that!!!
Report Post »BehindBlueEyes
Posted on September 23, 2010 at 9:31amIsrael owes (at the very least) the Palestinian people a state of their own. Unfortunately the Palestinians are tainted with groups like Hamas and Hezbollah which make statehood impossible.
vennoye
Posted on September 23, 2010 at 9:49amBehindBlueEyes–the Palestinians have a country-they always have. They came from Jordan–go back and check the history on where they came from. Not very long ago, Jordan was kicking them out of Jordan and I don‘t remember any outcry from anyone about Jordan’s action.
Report Post »geminisailor
Posted on September 23, 2010 at 10:26amWatching this manchild from wherever stand there and lecture the UN assembly, which is strongly anti-semitic, is not just a joke, it is downright frightening. In the phrase that he likes to use, “Make no mistake”, well, make no mistake — he does NOT have Israel’s best interest in mind. He seeks to undermind it, instead.
My stomach is sick and my head is bowed for us and for the world with this manchild at the head of our country.
Report Post »poverty.sucks
Posted on September 23, 2010 at 10:33amIran is capable of accommodating the Palistinians in the vast pristine deserts making it easier for the wrath of god to eliminate those two groups of people.
Report Post »BehindBlueEyes
Posted on September 23, 2010 at 10:51am@vennoye
Report Post »So the Jews kick them out and that’s ok?
LadybugsTX
Posted on September 23, 2010 at 1:20pmYes BlueEyes, they Israelis can kick the Palestinians out because they want to KILL them. And keep in mind, no matter how many times Israel backs down or gives into the Palestinians it will never be enough. They will be back in a few years tossing rocks and bombs for more until there is nothing left of Israel. Gaza, West Bank. What’s next? When does it stop? When will the Israeli’s be able to live their lives in peace?
You need to face facts about what the Muslim faith’s general goal is. To irradicate all “non-believers” from this world. I’m not talking about “Radical Islam” and their perversion of the Muslim faith. God knows man can pervert any religion for personal goals and retributions, but I am talking about actual tenents in the Muslim religion. Of course there are many ways to accomplish this goal, some peaceful such as converting through “education” or flat breeding us out; and some not so peaceful such as Jihad; convert or kill, which is perceived as a justified Holy war to a Muslim.
Please. Read the history of the Muslim faith and it‘s place in this world and realize it has huge history between it’s inception around 600 AD and the Jewish people being allowed to resettle their homeland, Israel after WWII.
Report Post »BehindBlueEyes
Posted on September 23, 2010 at 3:36pm@LadybugsTX
Report Post »Thank you for the reply it has some interesting points but let me say a few things about my thoughts.
When did the “current” violence start? It started shortly after the UN (yes the UN ) decided the Jews needed “a” or “their” homeland back. Many Jews fled the horror of Europe and poured into Palestine and it was declared it the State of Israel. The next thing you know the Palestinians are fleeing for their lives in panic. From that point on its been tit for tat between both sides Who’s the bad guy here? I really think we have bad guys on both sides and the Palestinians have lost their homes and land.They are now kept like animals under total control of the Israeli government. Do you feel comfortable with that type of control?
You point to a date of 600AD as part of your argument. Why that date? who was there before that date?
If you use that logic then Native American Indians have should have the right to ask all non Native Americans to leave their homeland. Just who decides who’s homeland is where and what rights go with that?
Thanks
Hugh Williams
Posted on September 23, 2010 at 3:47pmBehindBlueEyes
You asked when did the current violence start. It started in 1947 when the Arabs refused land when the UN divided the British controlled Palestine.
Report Post »A search on Wikipedia for the creation of Israel reveals “In November 1947, the United Nations voted in favor of the partition of Palestine, proposing the creation of a Jewish state, an Arab state, and a UN-administered Jerusalem.[16] Partition was accepted by Zionist leaders but rejected by Arab leaders, leading to civil war.” The Palestinians could have had their own state in 1947. Their leaders chose not to.
BehindBlueEyes
Posted on September 23, 2010 at 4:31pm@Hugh Williams
Report Post »Hugh, what justified driving the Palestinians from their homes and land?
Hugh Williams
Posted on September 23, 2010 at 9:08pmBehindBlueEyes
The modern State of Israel traces its historical and religious roots to the Biblical Land of Israel, also known as Zion, a concept central to Judaism since ancient times.[12][13][14] Political Zionism took shape in the late-19th century under Theodor Herzl, and the Balfour Declaration of 1917 formalized British policy preferring the establishment of a national home for the Jewish people. Following World War I, the League of Nations granted Great Britain the Mandate for Palestine, which included responsibility for securing “the establishment in Palestine of a national home for the Jewish people”.[15]
In November 1947, the United Nations voted in favor of the partition of Palestine, proposing the creation of a Jewish state, an Arab state, and a UN-administered Jerusalem.[16] Partition was accepted by Zionist leaders but rejected by Arab leaders, leading to civil war.”
Wikipedia has all this infromation and more.
Report Post »wingedwolf
Posted on September 23, 2010 at 8:29amIt is illegal per the Constitution for a president of the Untied States to serve in a leadership capacity for a foreign government, yet Mr. Obama is the president of the security thing at the UN. BLAZE PEOPLE: go to BQI’s blog at http://www.blackquillandink.com and watch the video entitled: “Tea Party Member Stuns Crowd.” I promise you won‘t regret it and won’t ever be more proud to be an American! LOL
Report Post »carrera
Posted on September 23, 2010 at 10:15amWingedwolf- One investigation at a time, the Obama Administration is under investigation for their most recent intrusion into the Kenya elections. Our Administration has potentially illegally used taxpayer funds to promote the “YES campaign” Joe Biden visited prior to the elections. The “YES campaign” was critical in the implementation of Kenya’s new Constitution. it has brought abortions and Sharia Law (kadhi courts) to the Kenyan people. 69% of Kenyans were opposed. Yet, somehow it passed. You can read more http://www.washingtontimes.com/news/2010/sep/1/buying-kenyas/pro-abortion-constitution/
Report Post »ishka4me
Posted on September 23, 2010 at 11:03amI know this quote is used often but it is so true ” if the palestinians lay down their weapons there will be no more war, and if Israel lays down it‘s weapons there will be no more Israel’
Report Post »BoilitDown
Posted on September 23, 2010 at 11:12amAs I’ve said before, this is only one example of the dozens of infractions agianst the Constitution and bypassing laws this Administration has committed. Any one of these should have set the media on fire investigation and exposing what our own government is doing.
Report Post »Yet, our 4th estate lies dormant, on standby waiting for someone they oppose to leap into action. The MSM has forgotten what their vital role is to the American people in leiu of partisan politics and should be very ashamed. It seems, rather, that they’ve joined forces agianst us.
AngryTexanFromAmarillo
Posted on September 23, 2010 at 12:33pmIt is sad that very few people even know of the remaining versus of our national anthem and even more sad is 80% of the people in our country couldn’t even tell you who wrote the poem and why or even where. The man in the video brought tears to my eyes. I am so proud of many Americans in the last 2 years I have seen so many wonderful people come out of the shadows and away from personal in home discussions that tend to go no where, and stand up for what they believe in. God truly has blessed our country and its about time people stand up and remember Him.
We must not cower in fear of persecution and ridicule any longer for being Christians. The media and hollywood have turned being a proud Christian into something people are embarrassed to be proud of
Report Post »and we must change that.
carrera
Posted on September 23, 2010 at 1:10pmAngryTexan- Amen. I have found myself, several years ago, saying “Happy Holidays” or “Bless You” when someone sneezed. I had allowed myself to be manipulated by those who repeatedly ridiculed Christianity and made it politically “incorrect” to embrace our faith. I was also moved by the gentleman in the video and the audience members rose to their feet, there is a groundswell of proud Americans, we are witnessing the restoration.
Report Post »