WORLD Obama to Israeli youth: Forge peace

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USA TODAY FRIDAY, MARCH 222013 WORLD NEWS 5A Obama to Israeli youth: Forge peace 'Right to exist' is two-way street, he says themselves in the Palestiniuns' shoes, to look at the world throuch their eyes." He added: "It is not fair that a Palestinian child cannot grow up in a state of her own, and lives with the presence of a foreign army that con trols the movements of her parents every single day." The president also addressed the USA TODAY United States' bond with Israel, not- ing the security relationship between JERUSALEM President Obuma called on Israeli students Thursday to pro- "Only you can determine what kind of democracy you will have," Obama told several hundred diverse students - Jews, Muslims and Chris- tians — in a speech given in a Jerusa- lem convention center.

He called on them to remember that when they make those decisions they "will de- fine the future of Israel as well." Obama said the only way for Israe- is ana aicsms to achieve peace is through negotiations. He tried to reassure the Israelis that the U.S. Is- exist.

Your parents lived through war raeli bond is strong enough for Israc- after war to ensure the survival of the lis to take risks for peace. Jewish state.

Your children grow up knowing that people they have never Obama noted that Israelis "live in a neighborhood where many of your met hate them benuse of who they are, in a region that is changing un- neighbors have rejected your right to derneath your feet." President pushes 'end to occupation' in West Bank visit the two nations has "never been stronger." Reiterating that Israel has a "right to defend itself.

Obama cilled on Hamas to renounce violence, and af- is "a terrorist organization." After hecklers briefly interrupted Obama, he said. "This is part of the lively debate that we talked about. PABLO MARTINEL MONGO AF President Obama and Isracli President Shimon Peres raise glasses in a toast after Peres awarded Obama the Israeli Medal of Distinction.

At the same time, the president told them, "the Palestinian people's right to self-determination and jus- tice must be recognized not only for the sake of the Palestinians, but to rite esked the st asked the students to put have at least one heckler." Many of the israeli university stu- dents - who had to win a lottery to spent hours on the road to catch a glimpse of the Ameri cal presiacal taey much about.

Although some Israeli politicians may have felt snubbed by Obama's decision to speak to ordinary Israelis and not to parliament, the students said they were glad Obama didn't cave in to diplomatic pressure Binyamin Mittelman, a 27-year- ok student from Ben-Gunion Uni versity, in the southern city of Beer- sheva, called the speech "inspiring He reminded us that we, the younger generation, can make a difference.

Reut Caspi, an Orthodox Jewish student at Bar-Ilan University, near Tel Aviv, agreed with the president that Palestinian children deserve to five in peace but not at the expansi of Israeli children." Joseph Schwartz, another Bar-Ilan student, expressed doubts that the truesoman pubac is reway to recor nize that Jews have a right to their own country.

Obama's speech, which acknowledged Jewish history and Jewish statehood, would receive the same positive response in Ramallah, " he said. College student Randa Sharkiya. an Arab citizen of Israel, said she was gratified that Obama supports a Pal- estinian state.

Yet she was offended many minorities "The entire speech wus Jewish country, Jewish, Jewish Jewish," said Sharkiya, dressed in an Islamic head scarf.

"All I kept think- ing was, What about us?'* "Palestinians have a right to be free people in their own land." President Ohama Says borders of state can only be settled in talks with Israel Vanessa O'Brien and Michele Chabin Special for USA TODAY RAMALLAH, WEST BANK President Obama told Palestinians they "de- serve an end to occupation" and an "independent state of their own" as he visited a countory on thursday that Palestinians want as a nation.

Later, back in Israel, Obama said the Jewish state is at a crossroads and must help create an independent Palestinian state for the secure fu- ture of Israel. He said Israelis could not expect to remain safe without peace because "extremists" thrive on conflict. Following a two-hour visit with Palestinian Authority President Mahmoud Abbas in the West Bank.

Obama's asserted that the borders tor a Palestinian the state can only be settled through negotiations with Is- rael and that protect the national se- curity of the Jewish state. He proposed no initiatives of his own to resolve the matter. His visit was weeted by small bro- tests in the West Bank and rockets Gaza into Israel.

The rockets landed in a town in southern Isruel but dad not cause any injuries. Hoping to move the Middle Bast peace process forward, Obama flew by helicopter the short distance from Jerusalem to Ramallah, the seat of Palestinian government.

Obama was met by Abbas, Prime Minister Salam Fayyad and Saeb Brekat, the Pales- It was the first time Obama had territory conferred limited state sta- tus by the November. United Nations last In a press conference held with Obama, Abbas said that peace was "possible" and "necessary but he said that it be achieved through wars and settle- ments - or through violence.

He said that the people of Palestine aspire to their rights. PABLO MARTINEZ MONOIAIS, AN President Obama, right, and Palestinian Prime Minister Salam Fay- yad, center, greet members of a local youth dance group in Ramallah. "The only way to achieve that was through direct negotiations between Israelis and Palestinians themselves," Obama said.

He said that it was im- portant not to give up on the search for peace Abbas has insisted that the Pales- tinians will accept nothing less than an independent state in the entirety othe West Bank with East Jerusa lem as its capital, and the deal must include land on which Jewish cities have existed for decades.

Israel says its capital of Jerusalem will never be divided and that it is willing to give vacant Israeli land to the Palestinians so Jewish cities con- structed in the West Bank can be made part of Isracl Palestinian protesters complained that Obama has done little to pres- sure Israel to cove on the issues that have led to a stalemate, such as where to draw the borders for the new state and which Jewish settle- ments in the West Bank should be made part of Israel proper.

Security was extremely tight for the visit, but a few demonstrators managed to set up camp at Manara Square, the main square in Ramallah. There they held up placards de- claring: "Obama, Stop Supporting Is- raeli War Crimes" and "LiS. voted for occupation Nov.

29, 2012." That was a reference to the fact that the US. vot- od against partial statehood for the Palestinians in the UN. that day. The vote passed, despite the US. opposition. "America, first of all, they want to stick by Israel," said Akram Rezeg, who owns a bread shop here." Oba- ma. he's a food person.

Palestiman people, we don't want to hurt any- body who comes here to visit us. We welcome them." Dual saehada 2s a montinato: and translator for the German Em- bassy in Ramallah, said "Obama's visit is nothing it's just politics. "All the US. presidents come here, and nothing happens," he said. "The Palestinian Authority don't want peace with Isracl.

The people on the street want it, but the political guys Contributing Michele Chabin in Jerusalem.

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"WORLD Obama to Israeli youth: Forge peace," Honolulu Star Adviser, 22 March 2013. Covering Palestine archive, CP-2013-014. https://coveringpalestine.org/archive/cp-2013-014